国际英语资讯:Spotlight: Divided House approves rules for impeachment inquiry, uncertainties ahead_时事

国际英语资讯:Spotlight: Divided House approves rules for impeachment inquiry, uncertainties ahead

WASHINGTON, Oct. 31 -- A divided U.S. House of Representatives voted on Thursday approving a resolution designed to formalize proceedings of an impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump, setting the stage for what they have called "the next phase" of the investigation, as well as for more political uncertainties and partisan clashes.

The resolution, unveiled earlier this week by the House Rules Committee, was passed 232-196 by the Democratic-controlled House. No Republicans voted in favor of it and only two Democrats voted against it.

According to a text of the resolution, it establishes procedures for public impeachment hearings and the release of deposition transcripts, and outlines the House Judiciary Committee's role in considering potential articles of impeachment.

国际英语资讯:Spotlight: Divided House approves rules for impeachment inquiry, uncertainties ahead1

This was the first time that the House had taken a full chamber vote related to the impeachment inquiry since House Speaker Nancy Pelosi initiated it in late September.

Trump, in tweets Thursday morning, called the impeachment inquiry the "Greatest Witch Hunt In American History," claiming that it was hurting the nation's stock market.

White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham issued a statement in response to the resolution, accusing it of still failing to "provide any due process whatsoever" to the Trump administration.

The impeachment inquiry was triggered by an anonymous whistleblower who had raised concerns about the White House's interactions with Ukraine, including a July 25 phone call between Trump and his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky.