US House lawmakers secure enough votes to pass Trump impeachment rules

[WASHINGTON] Democrats in the US House of Representatives secured enough votes on Thursday to pass legislation setting up next steps in the fast-moving impeachment process involving Republican President Donald Trump.

The vote is the first formal test of support for the inquiry that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi launched on Sept 24. The impeachment inquiry focuses on whether Trump pressured Ukraine into helping him in his 2020 re-election campaign, a charge the president denies.

Eventual articles of impeachment would be drafted by the Judiciary Committee for a final floor vote to impeach the president.

It would then be up to the Republican-led Senate to decide whether Mr Trump should be removed from office. 

REUTERS,BLOOMBERG