US President Donald Trump is facing a process that could, with enough support in Congress, see him removed from office.

It all centres on whether or not he improperly sought help from Ukraine to boost his chances of re-election in 2020.

Formal impeachment charges were approved by the Democratic Party-controlled House Judiciary Committee on 13 December following weeks of debate.

President Trump, who is a Republican, strongly denies any wrongdoing.

Depending on what happens in the next few weeks, Mr Trump could end up becoming only the third president in US history to be impeached - but more on what that means below.

What is he accused of doing wrong?

President Trump is accused of pressuring Ukraine to dig up damaging information on one of his main Democratic challengers for the presidency in 2020, Joe Biden, and his son Hunter.

Hunter worked for a Ukrainian company when Joe Biden was US vice-president.

The president is accused of dangling two things as bargaining chips to Ukraine - withholding $400m of military aid to Ukraine that had already been allocated by Congress, and a White House meeting for Ukraine's president.

This, Democrats say, amounts to an abuse of presidential power, using the office for personal political gain and to the detriment of national security. Ukraine was using that money in its ongoing conflict with Russia.

Mr Trump is also accused of obstructing Congress by refusing to co-operate with the congressional inquiry.

What is the evidence against Trump?

A formal complaint from a whistleblower - an unnamed intelligence official who wrote a letter expressing concern about Mr Trump's 25 July call with President Volodymyr Zelensky - kicked off the impeachment process in early September.

A rough transcript of the call revealed that Mr Trump had urged President Zelensky to investigate discredited allegations against Joe and Hunter Biden.

The call came shortly after Mr Trump had blocked the release of millions of dollars in US military aid to Ukraine. A senior official later testified that the president made clear the release of the aid was conditional on Mr Biden being investigated, but the White House denies this.

In a series of public hearings, a procession of US officials have testified that there was a White House shadow foreign policy led by the president's personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani.

Its aim was to get Ukraine to open an investigation into the Bidens and declare as much publicly.

What is his defence?

Mr Trump denies using US military aid as a bargaining chip with Mr Zelensky and has repeatedly insisted his call with Ukraine's leader was "perfect".

He has called the impeachment inquiry a "witch hunt" by Democrats and elements of the media.

He also says it was appropriate to ask Ukraine to investigate "corruption", referring to the energy firm where Hunter Biden worked.

The Republican defence comes in three parts:

- Ukraine's president said he felt no pressure

- The Ukrainians were unaware the aid was held back

- US military aid was eventually released

What is impeachment anyway?

To impeach, in this context, means to bring charges in Congress that will form the basis for a trial.

The US constitution states a president "shall be removed from office on impeachment for, and conviction of, treason, bribery, or other high crimes or misdemeanours".

It's important to note this is a political process, rather than a criminal one...


Read More: https://www.abnews247.com/2019/12/7-things-you-must-know-about-donald-trumps-impeachment-inquiry/

Chai, Donald my guy... I know he’ll scale through this. He always does

Trump has done nothing wrong

Although I never liked Trump and his antics, I feel the democrats are foaming in the mouth unnecessarily.

Trump has outperformed and it’s safe to say the US economy has done better than it has in recent years.

This has most certainly earned him another term in office and the democrats know that and are afraid of that reality, hence the impeachment hearings.

MAGA.

The way its going, I don't see the Democrats securing the 2/3 majority to initiate conviction even if they secure the required 51% for trial to proceed. Just like Clinton, he may be impeached, but he'll see this first term through. Good luck, Trump.

Will probably be impeached by the Democrats controled house, but will be saved by the republican controlled Senate