House Judiciary Committee kicks off first impeachment hearing

The House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday began the second phase of the impeachment inquiry into President Trump by convening a meeting to hear from law professors about the history of impeachment and what actions constitute an impeachable act.

The hearing follows the release of a report detailing the findings of the House Intelligence Committee’s investigation conducted during several weeks of hearings last month.

The report, released by the panel Tuesday evening, alleges the probe into Trump “uncovered a months-long effort by President Trump to use the powers of his office to solicit foreign interference on his behalf in the 2020 election,” the report stated.

Democrats claim Trump held back nearly $400 million in military aid to coerce Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to launch investigations into former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter, who served on the board of a Ukrainian natural gas company.

Republicans on the Intelligence Committee released their own report, exonerating Trump for his actions with Ukraine by saying the military aid was never used as leverage and was eventually released on Sept. 11.