Trump Impeachment Trial Starts On Feb. 8 As House Delivers Article To Senate

The House of Representatives on Monday evening delivered its article of impeachment against former President J. Donald Trump to the Senate, setting the stage for a trial that will decide whether to convict Trump for inciting the deadly insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.

Trump will become the first president in U.S. history to face an impeachment trial twice. Lawmakers are expected to begin hearing the case on Feb. 8.

The date was chosen after Senate Republicans had requested from the chamber more time to allow Trump’s lawyers to draft and exchange written briefs. The pause would also give lawmakers time to confirm several members of President Joe Biden’s Cabinet.

House impeachment managers presented the article of impeachment to Julie E. Adams, secretary of the U.S. Senate.

The trial will be presided by Democratic Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont, an individual familiar with the matter told NPR. Leahy has served as chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee and was the Senate Judiciary Committee's former chairman.

Leahy, 80, is the Senate's president pro tempore, or the longest-serving lawmaker in the majority party. The role makes him third in line of presidential succession, after Vice President Kamala Harris and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

"I'm not presenting the evidence. I am making sure that procedures are followed. I don't think there's any senator who over the 40-plus years I've been here that would say that I am anything but impartial in voting on procedure,” Leahy said when asked whether he could remain impartial.

“When I preside over the impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump, I will not waver from my constitutional and sworn obligations to administer the trial with fairness, in accordance with the Constitution and the laws," he added.

Trump will become the first president in U.S. history to face an impeachment trial twice. He also will also be the only president to go to trial after leaving office. The Senate would need 67 votes to charge and convict Trump with “incitement of insurrection.”

If the Senate convicts him, the chamber can decide whether to revoke his right to ever hold federal office again and remove benefits given to former presidents.