Top Democrat Nancy Pelosi has begun a formal impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump over allegations that he pressured a foreign power to damage a political rival.
Nancy Pelosi who is the Speaker of the US House of Representatives said the president “must be held accountable”.
Mr Trump has denied wrongdoing and called the efforts a “witch hunt”.
The high-stakes move by House Speaker Ms Pelosi, prompted by allegations that Mr Trump pressured the Ukrainian president, Mr Zelensky to investigate his leading political rival Joe Biden, lays the groundwork for a potentially hugely consequential confrontation between Democrats and the president ahead of the 2020 election.
There is strong support from House Democrats for impeachment, but the proceedings would be unlikely to pass the Republican-controlled Senate.
Though, Mr Trump has admitted discussing Joe Biden with Mr Zelensky. He has denied that he exerted pressure on the Ukrainian president to investigate his political rival.
“Two presidents have been impeached in US history – Andrew Johnson in 1868, and Bill Clinton in 1998. But neither was removed from office by a Senate trial.
Richard Nixon resigned in August 1974 before he could be impeached.”
