Process of impeachment has moved to next stage say those pushing for Trump removal from office

The US president claims the Democrats “have no impeachment case” and says he wants a “fair trial in the Senate”.

The House of Representatives is pushing ahead with plans to impeach President Donald Trump, Speaker Nancy Pelosi has said.

The House was moving forward to draft articles of impeachment, a milestone moment and only the fourth time in US history that Congress has tried to remove a president.

”Our democracy is what is at stake,” Ms Pelosi said.

“The president leaves us no choice but to act.”

Ms Pelosi argued that “no one is above the law” and Mr Trump’s actions were a “violation of the public trust and constitution”.

At the heart of the fight is Mr Trump’s request in July that Ukraine launch an investigation targeting former vice president Joe Biden, a front-runner to win the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination and a possible future rival for the White House.

Democrats say Mr Trump abused the power of his office by seeking personal political gain. He has denied any wrongdoing, saying there was no tit-for-tat with Ukraine and accusing the Democrats of a witch hunt.

In reply, Mr Trump said his political rivals were trying to impeach him “over nothing”.

“This will mean that the beyond important and seldom used act of Impeachment will be used routinely to attack future Presidents,” he said.