Donald Trump is 1st US President to be impeached twice

Lawmakers in the United States House of Representatives have impeached Donald Trump as U.S. president for a record second time.

One week before his term is set to end, lawmakers voted to impeach the Republican president on Wednesday, January 13, 2021.

The 74-year-old was impeached for "incitement of insurrection" for his role in last week's violent invasion of the U.S. Capitol.

Pro-Trump supporters invaded the Capitol Building in Washington DC on Wednesday, January 6 while lawmakers were certifying the result of the November 2020 election won by Joe Biden.

Five people died as a result of the invasion, including a police officer who was assaulted by rioters, one rioter who was shot by a security operative, and three people that died as a result of medical emergencies.

Trump's remarks before, during, and after the riots have been blamed for inciting his supporters and undermining America's democratic institutions.

U.S. Representatives on Tuesday, January 12 voted for Vice President Mike Pence to invoke the 25th Amendment and remove Trump as president, but the VP refused, prompting Wednesday's impeachment.

The House voted 232 to 197 in favour of impeachment, with 10 Republicans voting in support of the bid by the Democrat-controlled chamber.

Despite the impeachment, Trump will very likely finish the final week of his presidency which ends on January 20 as the Senate is on recess till January 19.

An impeachment trial at the Senate to convict him on the charge of "incitement of insurrection" will likely happen after Biden has been sworn in, and with the chamber controlled by Democrats.

A two-thirds majority of the Senate would be needed to convict Trump. Senators could also opt to bar him from running for office again, sinking his possible plans to relaunch a second term bid in 2024.

Trump was first impeached by the House in December 2019 on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, but was acquitted by the Republican-controlled Senate in February 2020.