Trump impeached for 'incitement' of mob attack on US Capitol

The House of Representatives has impeached US President Donald Trump for 'incitement of insurrection' at last week's Capitol riot

The House of Representatives on Wednesday impeached President Donald Trump for inciting a violent insurrection against the government of the United States, a week after he encouraged a mob of his supporters to storm the US Capitol.

Trump is the first president in US history to be impeached twice.

The Democratic-controlled House voted after two hours of debate as armed National Guard troops kept watch inside and outside the Capitol.

The FBI has warned of possible armed protests planned for Washington DC and all 50 US state capitals ahead of Biden's inauguration on 20 January.

In a video released after the vote in Congress, Trump called on his followers to remain peaceful, without mentioning his impeachment.

"Violence and vandalism have no place in our country... No true supporter of mine would ever endorse political violence," Trump said.

Impeachment charges are political, not criminal. Trump was accused by Congress of inciting the storming of the Capitol with a speech on 6 January to a rally outside the White House.

He urged his supporters to "peacefully and patriotically" make their voices heard, but also to "fight like hell" against an election that he falsely told them had been stolen.

Following Trump's remarks, his supporters broke into the Capitol, forcing lawmakers to suspend the certification of election results and take shelter. The building was placed on lockdown, and five people died, 

The impeachment article stated that Trump "repeatedly issued false statements asserting that the presidential election results were fraudulent and should not be accepted".

Last week, 139 Republicans voted against accepting the result of the 2020 election and Trump's defeat.

The Senate will now hold a trial to determine the president's guilt.

A two-thirds majority is needed to convict Trump, at least 17 Republicans would have to vote with Democrats. 

On Tuesday the New York Times reported that as many as 20 Senate Republicans are open to convict the president.

The trial will not come during Trump's remaining week in office.