InfoSearched
The House Judiciary Committee didn’t wait for prime time — it gaveled in Friday morning and had Donald Trump facing two articles of impeachment before most of Washington finished its coffee.
After a 14-hour markup session that ran past 11 p.m. Thursday, Chairman Jerry Nadler abruptly called a recess rather than force a midnight vote, insisting the historic decision should happen “in the light of day” with the public watching. That decision held. On Friday morning, December 13, the committee approved both articles — abuse of power and obstruction of Congress — in a vote that took less than ten minutes.
- Both articles passed 23–17, with every Democrat present voting yes and every Republican voting no; Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA) was absent due to illness.
- The abuse-of-power charge centers on Trump conditioning a White House meeting and nearly $400 million in military aid on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky opening investigations into Joe Biden and a 2016 election conspiracy theory.
- The obstruction-of-Congress charge cites the White House’s blanket refusal to comply with subpoenas, hand over documents, or let officials testify.
A Recess That Enraged Republicans
Nadler’s decision to pause Thursday’s marathon session rather than push through a late-night vote didn’t sit well across the aisle. Ranking member Doug Collins (R-GA) and committee Republicans accused Democrats of stage-managing the moment for daytime television, calling the delay a setup rather than a matter of principle. Nadler’s rationale — that Americans should see the vote happen in daylight rather than buried in an overnight news cycle — did little to cool the room, but it didn’t change the outcome either.
Two Articles, One Party-Line Result
The final tally surprised no one: 23–17 on both counts, straight down party lines. The swiftness of Friday’s vote stood in stark contrast to the previous night’s marathon, when members sparred for hours over amendments before Nadler cut off debate and recessed instead of finishing.
Trump has repeatedly dismissed the entire inquiry as a “witch hunt” and a “hoax.”
Upcoming Agenda for House Floor Votes
Friday’s markup vote sends House Resolution 755 to the full House of Representatives, where a floor vote is scheduled for the following week. If a majority approves either article, Trump becomes only the third president in U.S. history to be impeached, following Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton. From there, the matter moves to a Senate trial, where Republicans hold the majority needed to acquit.
The proceedings have exposed a familiar divide in Washington, and the coverage of the markup and the vote itself has kept the story near the top of the news and politics cycle for weeks. Beyond the Capitol, the story has also drawn scrutiny from outlets tracking the diplomatic fallout with Ukraine, part of a broader world news conversation about how the aid freeze affected an ally already at war with Russian-backed separatists.
Next week’s floor vote is the number to watch — Democrats hold 233 seats to the Republicans’ 197, more than enough to pass both articles if the party holds together the way it did Friday morning. After that, it’s the Senate’s turn, and Mitch McConnell has already made clear how that trial is likely to end.
Adele Celebrates 32nd Birthday With Amazing New Look
Celebs Who Forgot About Their Employees During The Pandemic
23rd Month – (Cucumber Feeding Frenzy) NO filter, NO CO2, NO Ferts 5 Gallon Nano Tank
Dog Reunited with Family Gets So Happy After She Recognizes Their Scent
What If We Nuked a Hurricane?