The President was addressing a political rally at the Kellogg Arena in Michigan, where the mood was almost celebratory. One man chanted “Four more years!” to cheers as he stood on a wall waving a large ‘Make America Great Again’ flag. Trump told the raucous crowd of supporters: “It doesn’t really feel like we’re being impeached.
“The country is doing better than ever before. We did nothing wrong.
“We did nothing wrong. And we have tremendous support in the Republican party, like we’ve never had before.”
He continued: “I’m the first person to ever get impeached and there’s no crime.
“It’s impeachment-lite. With Richard Nixon, I just see it as a very dark era. I don’t know about you, but I’m having a great time. It’s crazy.”
Trump accused Democrats of cheapening the impeachment process and acting in a manner which would have horrified America’s founding fathers.
He warned Democrats that in November next year America will “turn up to vote Pelosi the hell out of office”.
Democratic Speaker Nancy Pelosi addressed reporters immediately after the impeachment vote at a press conference.
She praised the moral courage of House Democrats and said that impeachment vote was essential to defend the US republic and its democracy, as well as the “aspirations of our children”.
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It is believed that the Speaker is seeking to delay the second stage of impeachment so as to ensure a fair trial in the Senate.
In particular Democrats are eager to force Senate leader and Republican Mitch McConnell to allow Democrat nominated witnesses to testify.
Ms Pelosi accused Mr McConnell of being in cahoots with Trump’s lawyers.
Bernie Saunders called on Republicans to carry out a fair and full trial.
He posted: “A trial in the Senate. Mitch McConnell must conduct a full and fair trial to hold this president accountable.
Trump can only be removed from office if the Senate votes too confirm the impeachment articles passed in the House.
The Senate is controlled by the Republicans and many have already gone on record to say they will not vote to remove Trump.
Republican senator and close Trump ally Lindsey Graham told CNN earlier this week that he would do everything to kill off the impeachment vote in the Senate.
He said: “This thing will come to the Senate, and it will die quickly, and I will do everything I can to make it die quickly.”
He added: “I am trying to give a pretty clear signal I have made up my mind. I’m not trying to pretend to be a fair juror here.”