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

House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff said Thursday's resolution will "set the stage" for the next phase of the investigation, where it will be conducted in public.

"We take no joy in having to move down this road and proceed with the impeachment inquiry, but neither do we shrink from it," he said.

However, it's not sure when public hearings could start. House Judiciary Committee Jerry Nadler only said the time for wrapping up the inquiry "depends, obviously, on how many witnesses, etcetera."

If any of the hearings is held publicly, Schiff will preside, according to the resolution. Schiff and Republican ranking member Devin Nunes are able to engage witnesses for up to 90 minutes and give that time to committee aides to conduct questioning.

Republicans can also request witness testimony and issue subpoenas but those efforts need to be approved by the majority.

Besides, the resolution directs the Schiff's panel to issue a report on its findings and recommendations and send it the House Judiciary Committee, which will consider and draft any potential articles of impeachment. Once the Judiciary Committee completes its hearings and votes on any articles of impeachment, its report would go to the full chamber for a vote.

The president will be impeached if the House approves any of the articles of impeachment by a simple majority vote. But conviction of the president can only happen in the Senate and requires at least two-thirds of its members, or 67 senators, to vote in favor. Currently, the Senate has 53 Republicans, 45 Democrats and two independents.