Democrats on Monday made good on their threat to file an article of impeachment against President Donald Trump, putting him on track to become the first US leader to face impeachment twice.
Impeachment would force Mr Trump to face a Senate trial over his role in inciting the mob that ransacked Capitol Hill last week.
But it is unlikely to achieve the Democrats’ objective of removing him from power before president-elect Joe Biden takes office on January 20.
House Democrats, led by David Cicilline, Jamie Raskin and Ted Lieu, filed the resolution to impeach Mr Trump on Monday.
The resolution charges the president with "incitement of insurrection", accusing him of using his rally last week to encourage the Capitol Hill rioters to try to stop Congress certifying Mr Biden's election victory.
Democrats have quickly gathered in support of the resolution and the House could vote as soon as Wednesday to impeach Mr Trump.
But even in the likely event that the House does so this week, the Senate is likely to protect the president from facing trial during his final nine days in office, because of Republican opposition.
Majority leader Mitch McConnell distributed a memo to Senate Republicans last week, saying that the chamber is in recess until January 19 – the day before Mr Biden’s inauguration.
Convening the Senate before then would require unanimous consent from all 100 senators, which is unlikely.
But if the House sends the article of impeachment to the other side of Capitol Hill, the Senate would still be constitutionally required to hold an impeachment trial for Mr Trump.
And after that trial, the Senate could vote to bar him from holding federal office again.
Mr Trump has strongly hinted that he intends to run for a second term as president in 2024.
A Senate conviction could force Mr Trump out of the Republican presidential primary field, but only if two thirds of Congress voted to convict him after the trial.
Only 48 senators voted to convict him after his impeachment trial last year.
A trial also threatens to bog down the Senate calendar at a time when Mr Biden will need his party’s new, razor-thin control of the chamber to confirm his Cabinet and start enacting his agenda.
But the House could also delay sending the article of impeachment to the Senate, ensuring there is no immediate trial and giving Mr Biden more flexibility to manoeuvre in the early days of his new administration.
House majority whip Jim Clyburn suggested on CNN on Sunday that Democrats should vote on impeachment, then postpone transferring the article to the Senate until after Mr Biden’s first 100 days in office.
Last year, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi delayed transferring the articles of impeachment for several weeks before sending them to the Senate.
Timing aside, Democrats are virtually guaranteed to set the parameters for the trial, as Republicans will no longer hold control of the Senate after next week.
Newly elected Senate Democrats Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff are due to take office at some point before Georgia's January 22 election certification deadline.
This will evenly split control of the Senate between 50 Democrats and 50 Republicans.
Vice president-elect Kamala Harris will cast any tie-breaking votes when she takes office on January 20.
Company Profile:
Name: The Protein Bakeshop
Date of start: 2013
Founders: Rashi Chowdhary and Saad Umerani
Based: Dubai
Size, number of employees: 12
Funding/investors: $400,000 (2018)
Key products and UAE prices
iPhone XS
With a 5.8-inch screen, it will be an advance version of the iPhone X. It will be dual sim and comes with better battery life, a faster processor and better camera. A new gold colour will be available.
Price: Dh4,229
iPhone XS Max
It is expected to be a grander version of the iPhone X with a 6.5-inch screen; an inch bigger than the screen of the iPhone 8 Plus.
Price: Dh4,649
iPhone XR
A low-cost version of the iPhone X with a 6.1-inch screen, it is expected to attract mass attention. According to industry experts, it is likely to have aluminium edges instead of stainless steel.
Price: Dh3,179
Apple Watch Series 4
More comprehensive health device with edge-to-edge displays that are more than 30 per cent bigger than displays on current models.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Qyubic
Started: October 2023
Founder: Namrata Raina
Based: Dubai
Sector: E-commerce
Current number of staff: 10
Investment stage: Pre-seed
Initial investment: Undisclosed
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre 6-cyl turbo
Power: 374hp at 5,500-6,500rpm
Torque: 500Nm from 1,900-5,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 8.5L/100km
Price: from Dh285,000
On sale: from January 2022
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
THE BIO
Favourite place to go to in the UAE: The desert sand dunes, just after some rain
Who inspires you: Anybody with new and smart ideas, challenging questions, an open mind and a positive attitude
Where would you like to retire: Most probably in my home country, Hungary, but with frequent returns to the UAE
Favorite book: A book by Transilvanian author, Albert Wass, entitled ‘Sword and Reap’ (Kard es Kasza) - not really known internationally
Favourite subjects in school: Mathematics and science
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The%20Secret%20Kingdom%20
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A cheaper choice
Vanuatu: $130,000
Why on earth pick Vanuatu? Easy. The South Pacific country has no income tax, wealth tax, capital gains or inheritance tax. And in 2015, when it was hit by Cyclone Pam, it signed an agreement with the EU that gave it some serious passport power.
Cost: A minimum investment of $130,000 for a family of up to four, plus $25,000 in fees.
Criteria: Applicants must have a minimum net worth of $250,000. The process take six to eight weeks, after which the investor must travel to Vanuatu or Hong Kong to take the oath of allegiance. Citizenship and passport are normally provided on the same day.
Benefits: No tax, no restrictions on dual citizenship, no requirement to visit or reside to retain a passport. Visa-free access to 129 countries.
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
The biog
Name: Abeer Al Bah
Born: 1972
Husband: Emirati lawyer Salem Bin Sahoo, since 1992
Children: Soud, born 1993, lawyer; Obaid, born 1994, deceased; four other boys and one girl, three months old
Education: BA in Elementary Education, worked for five years in a Dubai school
