Judiciary Committee debates impeachment articles ahead of vote

Author: CBS NEWS
Published: Updated:
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) listens next to House Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler(R), Democrat of New York, House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence House Committee on Oversight, speak to announce articles of impeachment for US President Donald Trump during a press conference at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, December 10, 2019. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP) (Photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images)

The House Judiciary Committee is meeting to consider amendments to the two articles of impeachment against President Trump on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, the last step before full House votes on each article.

The committee met Wednesday night in a session that lasted well into the night. They’ll resume work at 9 a.m. Thursday.

The nine-page resolution containing the articles of impeachment will be read into the record, after which members can offer and debate amendments. The committee will then vote on the resolution later in the day, the last step before the articles go before the full House.

Democrats don’t plan to offer any amendments on Thursday, aside from one addressing a procedural matter. Republicans are expected to offer several of their own.

How Thursday’s hearing will play out
7:15 a.m.: Once the amendment phase starts, any member can offer an amendment if it’s relevant to the bill. That member gets to speak for five minutes in support, and another member can speak for five minutes in opposition. At this point, any member of the committee may move to “strike the last word,” which allows them five minutes to weigh in on the amendment at hand. In theory, this means there could be more than three hours of debate on every amendment offered, but that appears unlikely.

After debate, amendments will receive either a voice or roll call vote — likely the latter — where the committee clerk will read each name and allow the member to vote yea or nay. Those votes are in addition to any other procedural motions — “points of order” — that Republicans raise, which could also receive roll call votes.

— Rebecca Kaplan

Full House impeachment vote likely next week
6:30 a.m.: Leaving a meeting in her office on Wednesday, Pelosi and two of her chairmen, Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff and Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler, confirmed the House will vote on each article of impeachment separately, meaning there will be one vote on Article I, abuse of power, and a second vote on Article II, obstruction of Congress.

Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, who controls the floor schedule, said they are still working on which day the vote will take place. — Kimberly Brown and Lauren Peller

What happened at Wednesday’s hearing
5:45 a.m.: At Wednesday’s hearing, many Democrats used personal anecdotes to defend the value of following and defending the rule of law. Republicans expressed outrage at the process and alleged that the proceedings have been based off hearsay. They also continued to criticize House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, and argued he should testify before the committees. — Victoria Albert

How to watch the markup hearing
Date: Wednesday, December 11, and Thursday, December 12, 2019
Time: Wednesday at 7 p.m. ET; Thursday at 9 a.m.
Who: The House Judiciary Committee
Online stream: CBSN, in the player above and on your mobile or streaming device
First published on December 12, 2019 / 5:01 AM

© 2019 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Copyright ©2025 Fort Myers Broadcasting. All rights reserved.

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without prior written consent.