Giuliani says he won’t be on Trump impeachment defense team

Trump was impeached by the House for a second time last week.

President Donald Trump is slated to hand over control of the White House to President-elect Joe Biden in three days.

The House of Representatives voted to impeach Trump last Wednesday on an article for "incitement of insurrection" for his role in the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol -- making him the only president to be impeached twice.


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Pelosi 1st to speak as House debates unprecedented 2nd Trump impeachment

After the House Reading Clerk concluded reading the full impeachment resolution against President Trump, the House has proceeded with the session by kicking off two hours of debate on the article on impeachment charging Trump with inciting an insurrection. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was the first to deliver remarks and called Trump “a clear and present danger” to the country.

"The president of the United States incited this insurrection, this armed rebellion, against our common country. He must go. He is a clear and present danger to the nation that we all love," Pelosi said. "Since the presidential election in November, an election the president lost, he has repeatedly lied about the outcome, sowed self-serving doubt about democracy and unconstitutionally sought to influence state officials to repeal reality."

"My fellow members, my fellow Americans, we cannot escape history. Let us embrace our duty, fulfill our oath, and honor the trust of our nation. And we pray that God will continue to bless America," she added, calling on the House to vote to impeach Trump and for the Senate to vote to convict him.

A spokesperson for Pelosi confirmed to ABC News she is wearing same outfit Wednesday that she wore for Trump's last impeachment vote on Dec. 18, 2019.

-ABC News' Benjamin Siegel


House clerk reads article of impeachment charging Trump with inciting an insurrection

House Reading Clerk Susan Cole, donning an American flag mask, recited the article of impeachment before two horus of debate on the resolution kicked off.

Democrats formally introduced an impeachment resolution Monday, charging Trump with "incitement of insurrection" after he told his supporters at a “Save America Rally” to march on the Capitol during Congress’ joint session to count Electoral College votes on Jan. 6.

"In all this, President Trump gravely endangered the security of the United States and its institutions of Government. He threatened the integrity of the democratic system, interfered with the peaceful transition of power, and imperiled a coequal branch of Government. He thereby betrayed his trust as President, to the manifest injury of the people of the United States," Cole read aloud from the measure.

The impeachment article also cited Trump's call with the Georgia Republican secretary of state where he urged him to "find" enough votes for Trump to win the state -- along with the Constitution's 14th Amendment, noting that it "prohibits any person who has 'engaged in insurrection or rebellion against' the United States" from holding office.


Pelosi thanks armed National Guard troops deployed to Capitol

As procedural votes were underway in the House, Speaker Nancy Pelosi went outside the Capitol to thank the National Guard troops deployed to the complex in the wake of last week's riot and ahead of Biden's inauguration in one week.

Some National Guard members inside the Capitol were spotted taking in the sights of the Rotunda Wednesday morning, gathering around and listening to Rep. Brian Mast, R-Fla., an Army veteran who lost both legs in Afghanistan.

The Capitol has been closed to tours for months due to the coronavirus pandemic. With the exception of last Wednesday's attack, this is one of the few times visitors have snapped photos inside the building during the pandemic -- finding themselves with unique access as they've been designated to protect the building and lawmakers.

As lawmakers arrived on the Hill ahead of the House gaveling in to consider Trump's second impeachment, a heavy National Guard presence greeted them both outside and inside the building -- with some resting, embracing their rifles, on the floor of the Capitol.

Jane Campbell, the president and CEO of the United States Capitol Historical Society, confirmed to ABC News that troops have not been quartered in the Capitol since the Civil War -- when the Rotunda was still under construction, and the open-air space was used as a field hospital.

A Defense official said the National Guard members seen sleeping at the Capitol are on breaks and noted that it’s not uncommon on domestic or overseas deployments to see members taking breaks in between long shifts.

There are currently 6,600 members of the National Guard in Washington, D.C. with more continuing to flow in. A Defense official said Wednesday afternoon that the National Guard has now been authorized to have up to 20,000 Guardsmen in Washington for inauguration security and that most may be in town by this weekend.

-ABC News Luis Martinez and Benjamin Siegel


House votes to advance debate, moves to adopt the 'rule'

The first vote broke down along party lines 221-205, with Democrats voting to advance proceedings. Seven House members did not vote.

The House is now voting on the rule, which is expected to take roughly 45 minutes to one hour, the same amount of time. The chamber will then move to begin debate on the impeachment article.

-ABC News' Benjamin Siegel


Dems push 'accountability' in case for impeaching Trump

House Judiciary Chairman Rep. Jerry Nadler in his floor remarks said the rioters who stormed the Capitol will be brought to justice. Amid accusations from some members of Congress that other members may have abetted rioters, he said accomplices on the floor will also be held accountable.

"We will bring the rioters to justice. Their accomplices in this house will be held responsible," Nadler said. "But today we must focus on the gravest threat first: President Trump."

Rep Adam Schiff, D-Calif., who was the lead impeachment manager for Trump's last impeachment proceedings said America has endured a Civil War, world wars, the Great Depression and now "a Trumpist and white nationalist insurrection," but the nation will prevail because of those Americans patriotic enough restore it.

"This is one of those moments," Schiff said. "Enough."

Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C., argued that while Republicans are calling for unity and healing, it was the president who refused to recognize Biden's win, leading to a violent transition of power.

"This president's refusal to participate in the peaceful transfer of power and his role in the incitement of last week's violence poses an existential threat. This threat must be extinguished immediately," Clyburn said.

Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., co-sponsor of the impeachment article, warned of future threats to lawmakers if the president isn't held accountable, stressing, "Every one of us in this room right now could have died."