The impending impeachment process is making Donald Trump hard to deal with. On the eve of his expected US House indictment, the US President sent a bizarre, bitter letter to its spokeswoman, Democrat Nancy Pelosi, to express his "strongest and most powerful protest."
In it, Trump described his impending impeachment due to abuse of power in the Ukraine affair with dozens of derogatory adjectives: "absurd", "invalid", "partisan", "malicious", "sneaky", "selfish", "unconstitutional". His anger was also evident in numerous exclamation marks: "You have degraded the meaning of the very ugly word impeachment!" He scolded. "But you will have to live with it, not me!"
Just a few years ago, such a rage, full of strange choice of words, grammar and punctuation, would have caused unanimous horror. Trump had largely dictated it himself, according to US media information, without consulting his lawyers. It did not contain any new information, but it did contain a number of errors, such as that it was not allowed to defend itself and that the whistleblower report that brought the whole affair to light was "wrong". Trump also repeated the refuted conspiracy theories about Ukraine that the impeachment drama is all about.
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"Sneaky" and "malicious": Trump's anger letter to Pelosi
But even this latest Trump tirade will change little, neither in the course of the impeachment nor in its predetermined outcome. This Wednesday, the House of Representatives wants to indict Trump with the democratic majority, since Tuesday evening it was clear that there were enough votes. At the "trial" in January, however, the Senate is likely to crush this charge with a Republican majority.
Nevertheless, the process continues. Why and with what aim? The most important answers to the key questions.
Why is?
The House of Representatives has two charges (articles of impeachment): abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, both violations of the US Constitution. According to Trump, the Ukrainian government should have urged him to help him with the election campaign: Kiev should have discredited Trump's rival Joe Biden and publicly forced the lie that it was not Russia but Ukraine that intervened in the 2016 US elections with flank protection of the Democrats. Trump has also sabotaged the Congressional investigation by refusing to allow witnesses and documents.
AP
658 pages against Trump: the Justice Committee formulated the indictment
Trump has jeopardized national security to gain personal benefit, the 658-page charge by the Justice Committee said. By trying to "corrupt" the US election with the help of a foreign nation, Trump "betrayed the nation" and if he went unpunished, he would continue to do so.
How does the process continue?
The case goes to the Senate from the House of Representatives, which will vote on Wednesday evening (local time) - and thus into the hands of the Republicans who have the majority there. The Senate meets on the first full week of January, chaired by John Roberts, Chief Justice of the Supreme Courts. The Democrats read out the charges and present their evidence, the Republicans make the plea. The controversial star lawyer Alan Dershowitz is under discussion as a defender of Trump. After the public hearing, the Senate deliberates behind closed doors and votes on both points. How long it all takes is difficult to predict.
Jacquelyn Martin / AP
"Nation betrayed"? US President Donald Trump
The ritual can only be compared to a limited extent with regular court proceedings. Due to the polarization of the United States, a political show process has deteriorated. The "judgment", which requires a two-thirds majority, has long been written down - acquittal. "There is no chance that the president will be removed from office," Mitch McConnell, the Republican chief senator, told Fox News.
McConnell does not want to summon witnesses - not even to discharge him - nor to debate, but to whip the procedure or, as he indicated on Tuesday, to flinch completely. He could do that with the Republican majority, unless his democratic counterpart Chuck Schumer can pull enough Republicans on his side to delay the process or force witnesses.
What is the mood like in the population?
The Americans are divided. In opinion polls, just under half are in favor of impeachment, about as many reject it - Democrats are in favor, Republicans are against it. These values have hardly changed during the dramatic congress hearings. The signs of fatigue are unmistakable: Thousands of people took part in the impeachment demos across the country on Tuesday evening, but Trump's popularity has even increased slightly in individual swing states.
J. Scott Applewhite / AP
Has long passed his verdict: Republican Senator Mitch McConnell
The Democrats have therefore long hesitated to start the impeachment process. In the end, they justified the step with national urgency and constitutional obligation. Most moderate MPs recently announced they would vote for an impeachment, even if it could cost their constituency. The conservative Democrat Jeff Van Drew from New Jersey wants to vote against it and switch to the Republicans.
What happens after an acquittal?
An acquittal would postpone Trump's decision to remain in office until the next election in November 2020. Until then, Trump has more freedom than before, since the most powerful means against him would have been exhausted. The separation of powers in the United States will shift completely to an overpowering - and, as he himself already threatened, vengeful - president, while Congress has long lost its control function.
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"He will no longer know any barriers," predicted Democratic Senator Chris Coons on NBC television about Trump's acquittal. "I am very worried about what else he could do until the 2020 elections when his behavior is no longer restricted."