Trump impeachment voted through to Senate by US House
Video report by ITV News Washington Correspondent Robert Moore
The US House of Representatives has voted to send impeachment charges to the Senate, paving the way for the next stage of the trial into Donald Trump.
Members of the House voted largely along party lines, with the Democrats securing a 228-193 victory.
The US president is facing charges of abuse of power over his pressure on Ukraine to investigate Democratic presidential rival Joe Biden, as Trump withheld aid to the country.
He was also charged with obstructing Congress' probe into the case.Trump has labelled the charges a "hoax" and denied any wrongdoing.
Prior to the vote, speaker Nancy Pelosi announced her seven-strong prosecution team for the expected trial.
Flanked by the team, Pelosi said: "Today is an important day. This is about the Constitution of the United States.”
Nancy Pelosi signs formal documents transfering impeachment articles from House to Sentate
Adam Schiff, chairmen of the House impeachment proceedings, will lead to proceedings, along with Jerry Nadler of the Judiciary Committee.
Also on the prosecution team include: Hakeem Jeffries of New York, Sylvia Garcia of Texas, Val Demings of Florida, Jason Crow of Colorado and Zoe Lofgren of California.
Republicans have an overall majority in the Senate, meaning that votes along party lines once it reaches the chamber could favour Trump.
However new evidence which could be introduced during the hearing could have a significant impact on the trial, ITV News Washington Correspondent Robert Moore has said.
Trump's trial will be only the third presidential impeachment proceeding in US history, and comes amid the backdrop of the upcoming presidential election later this year.
As Pelosi's press conference was ongoing, Trump tweeted: "Here we go again, another Con Job by the Do Nothing Democrats. All of this work was supposed to be done by the House, not the Senate!"
New records were released by Schiff on Wednesday from Lev Parnas, an associate of Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani, about the Ukraine strategy, including an exchange with another man about surveilling later-fired Ambassador Maria Yovanovitch.
Schiff said the new evidence should bring more pressure on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who is reluctant to allow witnesses to testify.
“If McConnell makes this the first trial in history without witnesses, it will be exposed for what it is and that is an effort to cover up for the president,” Schiff said.
McConnell opened the Senate dismissing what he called a rushed impeachment that is more about the politics of Democrats who don’t like Trump than the charges against him.
Mr McConnell has said the trial is expected to formally begin next Tuesday.