The US House of Representatives has voted to begin a new public phase in the impeachment inquiry, setting the stage for dramatic open hearings about Donald Trump’s efforts to pressure his Ukrainian counterpart to investigate political opponents.
The measure passed 232-196, supported by all but two Democrats and opposed from almost all 197 Republicans. It paves the way for the House panels leading the investigation to hold public hearings with witnesses who previously testified in private.
Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic Speaker of the House, held the vote in an effort to rebut Republican criticism of the investigation. The move allows the Democrats to build a body of public evidence that will be critical if the House eventually votes, as expected, on formal articles of impeachment against Mr Trump.