TEHRAN, Young Journalists Club(YJC)_The Democratic-controlled House launched a planned six hours of debate on the two articles of impeachment - formal charges - arising from the president's actions toward Ukraine, with time equally divided between the parties and no amendments.
Wednesday's votes set the stage for a trial in the Republican-led Senate in January.
No president has ever been removed from office via the impeachment process set out in the Constitution, and Republican senators have given little indication of changing that.
As the debate unfolded, Trump on Twitter called the Democratic-led proceedings "AN ASSAULT ON AMERICA" and on his party.
SUCH ATROCIOUS LIES BY THE RADICAL LEFT, DO NOTHING DEMOCRATS. THIS IS AN ASSAULT ON AMERICA, AND AN ASSAULT ON THE REPUBLICAN PARTY!!!!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 18, 2019
Trump would become only the third US president to be impeached.
In a series of speeches on the House floor, Republicans defended the president and accused Democrats of seeking to topple him from power using an unfair and rigged process to nullify the results of the 2016 election.