Pelosi announces impeachment inquiry into the president
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| Washington
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi launched the House into a formal impeachment inquiry against President Donald Trump on Tuesday, acquiescing to mounting pressure from fellow Democrats and plunging a deeply divided nation into an election year clash between Congress and the commander in chief.
The probe centers on whether Trump abused his presidential powers and sought help from a foreign government for his reelection, actions Ms. Pelosi said would mark a 鈥渂etrayal of his oath of office.鈥 She said 鈥渘o one is above the law鈥 and that the president聽鈥渕ust be held accountable.鈥
Ms. Pelosi had long resisted pursuing impeachment, but her caucus moved swiftly in favor of a probe in recent days following reports that Mr. Trump asked Ukraine鈥檚 president to investigate Democratic foe Joe Biden and his son. Her decision sets up her party鈥檚 most urgent and consequential confrontation with a president who thrives on combat, and it injects deep uncertainty in the 2020 White House race.
Mr. Trump, who was meeting with world leaders at the United Nations, called the impending inquiry a 鈥渨itch hunt鈥 and predicted it would be a 鈥減ositive for me.鈥
This story was reported by The Associated Press.