https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/impeachment-inquiry-12-13-2019/index.html

It was another big day in the impeachment inquiry into President Trump as the Judiciary Committee approved articles of impeachment.

Here’s where things stand today:

• What happened: After a lengthy day of debating the two articles of impeachment against Trump, abuse of power and obstruction of congress,the House Judiciary Committee voted to approve both articles. The vote fell on partisan lines: Democrats voted yes and Republicans voted no, with the exception of Ted Lieu, a Democrat who was absent because of illness.
• Yesterday: The vote was supposed to be held yesterday but was unexpectedly delayed by House Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler, a decision that underscored the partisan tensions throughout the impeachment inquiry.
• What’s in the articles: The first article of impeachment accuses Trump of abusing his office by pressuring Ukraine to investigate his political rivals and withholding US security aid and a White House meeting. The second accuses him of obstructing the investigation into his misconduct by blocking witnesses and disobeying subpoenas.
• What’s next: The two articles of impeachment will now go to the House floor for a vote. If a simple majority of the House votes to approve either article, Trump will become the third president ever formally impeached — President Nixon resigned after the votes passed the House Judiciary Committee but before they could make it to the full House. The House has yet to set a specific date for the full impeachment vote, but two Democratic leadership aides said it could happen on Wednesday.
• Possible trial: Then the Republican-led Senate will hold a trial presided over by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. The White House is still planning its trial strategy and considering whether or not it will call witnesses, which may lengthen the trial. Trump said earlier that “I wouldn’t mind the long process because I’d like to see the whistleblower — who is a fraud.”

6 min ago

Schumer on a potential impeachment trial: We will render “impartial justice”

From CNN’s Phil Mattingly

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said in a statement following this morning’s vote in the House Judiciary committee on the article of impeachment:“If articles of impeachment are sent to the Senate, every single senator will take an oath to render ‘impartial justice.’ Making sure the Senate conducts a fair and honest trial that allows all the facts to come out is paramount.”