A formal impeachment inquiry into US President Donald Trump’s communication with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has been launched. A rough transcript of Mr Trump’s July call with the Ukrainian President has been released, which confirmed the Republican president repeatedly asked a foreign power to investigate his leading Democratic political rival, Joe Biden. Now the US House Intelligence Committee on Thursday released a declassified version of a whistleblower report alleging that President Donald Trump used his office to solicit interference in the 2020 presidential election from a foreign country.
That whistleblower’s complaint was given to US Congress on Wednesday, and the White House released a five-page summary on the 30-minute call between Mr Trump and Mr Zelenskiy.
The report said: “I am deeply concerned that the actions described below constitute ‘a serious or flagrant problem, abuse, or violation of law or executive order’ that ‘does not include differences of opinion concerning public policy matters,’ consistent with the definition of an ‘urgent concern’.”
Lawmakers who reviewed the document described it as “deeply disturbing” and “very credible”, and had called for it to be made public.
According to US media, the whistleblower is a CIA agent who previously worked at the White House.
The whistleblower has alleged senior White House officials tried to “lock down” all details of a phone call between Mr Trump and the Ukrainian president.
In response, Mr Trump has repeatedly suggested he is being subjected to a witch hunt.
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He tweeted on Wednesday: “There has been no President in the history of our Country who has been treated so badly as I have.
“The Democrats are frozen with hatred and fear.
“They get nothing done. This should never be allowed to happen to another President. Witch Hunt!”
Democratic former Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe, who had previously urged Democrats to move carefully on the subject of impeachment as the Republican-led Senate would almost certainly reject articles of impeachment, said: “The guy has got to be stopped.
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“This is a president using presidential power to invite a foreign government to come into our country and interfere with our democracy.
“This is too much.”
However, despite former congressman and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz dubbing details of Mr Trump’s phone call “deeply troubling,” he said impeachment may not be the way forward.
Mr Walz said: “It may not be politically good to do because I think at this point I, like many Minnesotans, am so sick and tired of the dysfunction in DC.”
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What is the likelihood Trump will be impeached?
There had been concerns among Democrats that the probe into the President could endanger their House majority and antagonise suburban voters who had recently warmed to the party and will be vital to defeating Mr Trump next autumn.
However, Democrats were encouraged by Wednesday’s release of a rough transcript of Mr Trump’s July call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, which confirmed the Republican president repeatedly asked a foreign power to investigate his leading Democratic political rival, Joe Biden.
According to Betfair exchange, the odds of Mr Trump being impeached have shortened to a 50 percent chance.
Betfair Spokesperson Katie Baylis said: “Following the release of the call transcript we have seen the odds on the Betfair Exchange of Trump being impeached this term drop from 11/10 yesterday to even money today, meaning it’s now a straight 50/50 chance according to punters.
“There are sure to be a lot more revelations over the coming days so we will be keeping a close eye on those odds as the situation develops.”