WASHINGTON: The US House of Representatives will vote on Wednesday on sending articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump to the Senate, Democrats say.
The vote sets the stage for Mr Trump’s impeachment trial to begin in earnest next week.
Mr Trump was impeached by the House last month, on accusations of abuse of power and obstruction of congress.
He denies trying to pressure Ukraine to open an investigation into his would-be Democratic White House challenger Joe Biden.
Mr Trump has been touting unsubstantiated corruption claims about Mr Biden and his son, Hunter, who accepted a lucrative board position with a Ukrainian energy firm while his father handled American-Ukraine relations as US vice-president.
The impeachment trial by the Senate will be only the third ever of a US president.
While Democrats control the House, Mr Trump’s fellow Republicans control the upper chamber 53-47, and are all but certain to acquit him.
“The American people deserve the truth, and the Constitution demands a trial,” said Mrs Pelosi, a California congresswoman, in a statement about Wednesday’s vote.
Once the resolution is approved, the House managers will walk to the Senate and formally present the articles of impeachment in the well of the chamber, escorted by the sergeant-at-arms. The articles of impeachment will be read out.
Senate leader Mitch McConnell met Republican senators behind closed doors on Tuesday to map out the ground rules.
He said the trial was likely to begin in earnest next Tuesday.
The first couple of days will involve housekeeping duties, possibly later this week.
