Trump is now officially impeached, proceedings in the Senate will follow next.
(Photo : Reuters)

The House has officially voted to impeach the president of the United States, President Donald Trump. He is the third president who is impeached in the history of the United States.

Two articles of impeachment were passed in the House on Wednesday night against President Donald Trump. The first article of impeachment is charging him with the abuse of his power where it garnered 230-197 votes in favor of the impeachment. It was observed that 2 Democrats voted "No" for the first article. The second article of impeachment is where Trump is accused of obstructing the Congress where it garnered 229-198 votes in favor of his impeachment were 3 Democrats voted "No."

In a report from Vox, one of the Democrats who voted "No" in the two articles of impeachment is Tulsi Gabbard who is involved together with President Trump about the Ukranian scandal. Moreover, it can be recalled that Trump urged the Ukrainian president to investigate his strong presidential rival from the Democrats who former vice-president Joe Biden and his son Hunter. 

The impeachment complaint filed against Trump was not first entertained by the Democrats. It only changed when the issue about Joe Biden and Hunter was raised. Moreover, despite the slow opening of the impeachment inquiry, the Democrats were able to finish the proceedings before Christmas. The process will now move to the Republican-controlled Senate.

According to House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer that, indeed, the Democrats did not rush to engage immediately in the articles of impeachment filed against Trump. One of the reasons that the majority of the Democrats decided to support the impeachment was only after the whistleblower's complaint became viral in the public and the Ukrainian scandal.

It can be remembered that in the history of U.S. politics only two presidents were successfully impeached. First was Andrew Johnson in1868 and second was Bill Clinton in 1998. Meanwhile, President Richard Nixon resigned from his office before he could be formally impeached in 1974. 

It was also observed that few members of the Democrats defected from their party. Rep.Jeff Van Drew announced that he plans to join the Republicans together with Rep. Collin Peterson and Rep. Jared Golden. During the votation, Rep. Golden voted in favor of the first article of the impeachment but did not support the second article. Meanwhile, Rep. Justin Amash who is a former member of the Republicans voted in favor of the first article of impeachment.

Two colors of paper were used during the votation instead of the use of the electronic method. Most of the Republicans were observed brought with them a red paper to the clerk while House Speaker Nancy Pelosi filled out a green ballot which signifies for "Yes."

However, it does not necessarily mean that since the House had officially impeached Trump he will be removed from his office. The chance of removing him from his office is very thin because the House of Senate is controlled by the Republicans. There is a need for at least 67 members of the House of Senate to vote to convict him in any of the two articles filed against Trump. But, it is impossible to expect that there will be more than 20 members from the Republicans to vote for his removal in the office.