Hearings at the U.S. House of Representatives are entering an important second week. Lawmakers will hear from eight more witnesses about President Donald Trump’s dealings with Ukraine: Did the president push Ukraine to investigate Democrats? And did he withhold military aid from the country?
“Impeachment” is the term the U.S. legal system uses for charges of misconduct against a public official like a senator or a president. Impeachment is merely a charge, not a conviction. Only two U.S. presidents have ever been impeached: Presidents Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton. Neither president was convicted of a crime.
This week, the House Intelligence Committee has a speedy pre-Thanksgiving schedule. Eight witnesses will testify at the impeachment hearings. Some will speak back to back on the same day. Witnesses include a National Security Council official, an ambassador, and a former Russia adviser to the White House.
Today, the committee will hear from former Ukraine envoy Kurt Volker. Volker joined in talks with Ukrainian officials during President Trump’s dealings with them.
Lawmakers will also hear from aides who may have insider info about White House turmoil over Ukraine.
The most eagerly awaited witness is Gordon Sondland, President Trump’s European Union ambassador. Sondland spoke multiple times to the President about Ukraine policy. He will testify tomorrow morning.
Some people say Sondland knows whether President Trump held up military aid to Ukraine. Critics say the President did so to pressure Ukraine to investigate some Democrats—including former Vice President Joe Biden and his son, Hunter.
The Intelligence Committee will likely wrap up its part of the impeachment probe in the coming weeks. After that, the Judiciary (legal) panel could hold its own hearings before writing formal articles of impeachment (the set of charges).
If the House approves these articles, lawmakers will call for a trial in the U.S. Senate.
House Democrats hope to finish their part of the process by the end of 2019. A Senate trial, if it comes, would likely take place in 2020.
The Bible says, “A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches.” (Proverbs 22:1) How does this relate to an impeachment?
(Foreign Service officer George Kent, left, and top U.S. diplomat in Ukraine William Taylor, right, are sworn in to testify during the first public impeachment hearing of the House Intelligence Committee on Capitol Hill, Wednesday, November 13, 2019. Joshua Roberts/Pool via AP)
