US impeachment articles will be drafted against Trump

Significance

The Democratic-led House has been undertaking formal impeachment investigations since October, and unofficially since forming the majority in January 2019, so Pelosi’s statement yesterday was more a confirmation of next steps. Nonetheless, yesterday’s move is the formal start of what will be a convulsive political and constitutional clash between the executive and legislature, and Democrats and Republicans.

Impacts

• The Republican-led Senate will receive the impeachment articles and put the president on trial.
• The Senate majority leader will aim for a trial that is accepted as fair but does not hamstring Trump.
• Senate Republicans are unlikely to convict and thus remove Trump, but the House could still censure him.