this is a bbc world news special on the day president trump has been impeached a second time. the resolution is adopted without objection, the motion to reconsider is laid up the table. the gavel falls again for us president donald trump. it's the first time a us president is impeached twice, and comes a week after the riots on capitol hill. some republicans sided with democrats and voted for impeachment, others repeated unfounded claims of widespread fraud in the election. last week, there was a domestic threat at the door of the capital, and he did nothing to stop it. that is why, with a heavy heart, inquiries all, i will vote yes on these articles of impeachment.

applause we have the 2020 presidential election. — we have the 2020 presidential election, where _ we have the 2020 presidential election, where the _ we have the 2020 presidential election, where the presidentl election, where the president correctly— election, where the president correctly pointed _ election, where the president correctly pointed out - correctly pointed out unconstitutional - correctly pointed out - unconstitutional behavior, correctly pointed out _ unconstitutional behavior, voting irregularities, _ unconstitutional behavior, voting irregularities, concerns- unconstitutional behavior, voting irregularities, concerns over- irregularities, concerns over tabulations, _ irregularities, concerns over tabulations, dead _ irregularities, concerns over tabulations, dead people i irregularities, concerns over- tabulations, dead people voting and now, impeachment— tabulations, dead people voting and now, impeachment again. _ the articles of impeachment against him will next go to the senate, but a trial likely won't start until after he leaves office. today's events unfolded in a heavily—fortified us capital. it's been noted that there are currently more troops deployed in washington than in iraq and afghanistan combined. hello and welcome if you're watching in the uk or around the world. it's a historic day

here in washington. president trump has become the only us president to get impeached twice. the house of representatives here has spoken — all democrats in the house and ten house republicans voted to hold the president accountable for his actions in the lead—up to last week's riots. it comes a week after supporters of the president stormed the capitol building, and a week before president—elect joe biden is due to be sworn in. barbara plett—usherjoins us from capitol hill. barbara, compared to the last impeachment of donald trump, this was bipartisan in the sense that ten house republicans voted for it. is that number being seen as small or significant or both? i that number being seen as small or significant or both?— significant or both? i think it's bein: significant or both? i think it's being seen — significant or both? i think it's being seen as _ significant or both? i think it's being seen as significant, - significant or both? i think it's i being seen as significant, laura, and that's because i year ago, the senate trial started almost exactly a year ago this week. it's really

something. that was completely partisan. no republicans broke ranks. now you have ten, which is significant because of that previous record, and one of them being miss cheney, the third ranking member in the house. someone with quite a bit of seniority and conservative credentials. it's certainly something the democrats played on very much during their speeches, even. a lot of them or some of them framed their speeches in her own words about what she thought the dangers mr trump presented. it's also interesting that it's a bit more fluid in the senate as well. mitch mcconnell has indicated that he doesn't know how he's going to vote, and last time, it was very clear he would support mr trump. he would look at the legal arguments. we also know the backdrop is there is ape split in the republican party. there are many loyalists to

mr trump —— a split. but there are members of the more traditional conservative part of the party that would like to detach the party from mr trump. would like to detach the party from mrtrump. it's would like to detach the party from mr trump. it's only a possibility at this stage, not a probability, but it is significant.— it is significant. barbara, what's the atmosphere _ it is significant. barbara, what's the atmosphere been _ it is significant. barbara, what's the atmosphere been like - it is significant. barbara, what's the atmosphere been like therei it is significant. barbara, what's i the atmosphere been like there on capitol hill exactly a week after the mob stormed those corridors? it feels like washington is a military zone at the moment.— feels like washington is a military zone at the moment. well, the area around downtown _ zone at the moment. well, the area around downtown around _ zone at the moment. well, the area around downtown around the - zone at the moment. well, the area around downtown around the capital building and the white house is a kind of militarized zone. there's a perimeter around it and national guard troops have been deployed. they are not armed and they are in a fairly relaxed posture, but there are a lot of them. so, that is certainly noticeable.-

certainly noticeable. sorry to interru -t certainly noticeable. sorry to interrupt you. _ certainly noticeable. sorry to interrupt you. nancy - certainly noticeable. sorry to interrupt you. nancy pelosi, | certainly noticeable. sorry to i interrupt you. nancy pelosi, we certainly noticeable. sorry to - interrupt you. nancy pelosi, we are adjusting live pictures of her now. she's about to sign, we think, those articles of impeachment. it's been a huge data for her. just a few days after she and her staff were fearing for her lives in.— after she and her staff were fearing for her lives in. yes, by members of the mob that— for her lives in. yes, by members of the mob that were _ for her lives in. yes, by members of the mob that were calling _ for her lives in. yes, by members of the mob that were calling for - for her lives in. yes, by members of the mob that were calling for her, . the mob that were calling for her, asking where she was. apparently with an intention to do her harm, perhaps a stash of eight —— perhaps assassinate her. it was a very traumatic experience for her. we understand she is about to sign the article of impeachment. she has been meeting with the night manager �*s that she has appointed to conduct the trial, but we don't know when she is going to have the article —— hand of the article overthrew the senate. . , ~ , .,

senate. that is the key thing now, because there _ senate. that is the key thing now, because there have _ senate. that is the key thing now, because there have been - senate. that is the key thing now, because there have been some . because there have been some speculation about the idea that mitch mcconnell might hold a senate trial before joe mitch mcconnell might hold a senate trial beforejoe biden's trial before joe biden's inauguration. trial beforejoe biden's inauguration. he's poured cold water all over that. inauguration. he's poured cold water all overthat. let'sjust inauguration. he's poured cold water all over that. let's just listen in. no sound at the moment. there it is, let's listen in. no sound at the moment. there it is, let's listen im— let's listen in. we're very proud that they have _ let's listen in. we're very proud that they have accepted - let's listen in. we're very proud that they have accepted the - that they have accepted the responsibility, a responsibility we do not _ responsibility, a responsibility we do not think one week ago we would have _ do not think one week ago we would have. today, and a bipartisan way, the house — have. today, and a bipartisan way, the house demonstrated that no one is above _ the house demonstrated that no one is above the law, not even the president— is above the law, not even the president of the united states. but donald _ president of the united states. but donald trump is a clear and present danger— donald trump is a clear and present danger to— donald trump is a clear and present danger to our country and that once again. _ danger to our country and that once again. we _ danger to our country and that once again, we honour the oath of office to protect — again, we honour the oath of office to protect and defend the constitution of the united states.

so help— constitution of the united states. so help us god. now, i sadly, of a president— so help us god. now, i sadly, of a president who would incite insurrection, will sign the article of impeachment. studio: saying that donald trump is a clear and present danger. the house has shown that no man is above the law, although it was bipartisan, ten house republicans voted to impeach donald trump for inciting insurrection. nancy pelosi, the second time she's presided over the impeachment of donald trump, it was

over ukraine a year ago. it seems like a generation ago, his attempt to pressure ukraine into it investigating joe biden. now this goes to the senate, but it seems like the trial will happen when donald trump is no longer president. yes, and fact, mitch mcconnell confirmed that. he said they will not start the trial until after the inauguration, and in his statement, he had already been hesitant to bring the senators back from recess, in which case, they would only have come back on the 19th, the day before the inauguration. there was some speculation he might invoke emergency measures, but he clarified that he will not and they will use the next week to focus on a peaceful transition of power before the inauguration, and then they'll take up inauguration, and then they'll take up the trial afterwards. that the criticism that some of the republicans level at the democrats, saying why are you taking this measure is that he going to be out of office anyway before you start

the trial? you're saying he's a threat and you need to act quickly, you don't know when he's going to do. in fact, you don't know when he's going to do. infact, he's you don't know when he's going to do. in fact, he's going to be there anyway. that was something the republicans used to critique what the democrats were to. their argument is this is not an impeachable act, then what is? and we need to take a strong stand to show this is not going to be acceptable and to prevent any other president from doing this kind of thing. president from doing this kind of thin._ i, ., plett—usher, thank you. today's impeachment vote caps off a week unlike any other in the history of america's capital city. our north america editorjon sopel has this report. on this vote, the ayes... the moment donald trump carved himself an unwelcome niche in american history, becoming the first president to be impeached twice. without objection, the motion to reconsider is laid upon the table. as dawn broke over the nation's capital, the place was somehow unrecognisable.

the landscape had changed. it now feels like the front line, a garrison town, with the elegant marble corridors a barracks. the civil war president, abraham lincoln, looking down on resting serviceman. but impeachment 2.0 is different, very different. for a start, the us congress, where this is being heard, is also the crime scene where the trump—supporting mob descended last week. almighty god, wield your sword and penetrate the confusion and discontent of our country. and this isn't about some call to a ukrainian politician. this is about an assault on the sacred heart of us democracy. donald trump is charged with inciting it. the president must be impeached and i believe the president must be convicted by the senate, a constitutional remedy that will ensure that the republic will be safe from this man, who is so resolutely determined to tear down the things that we hold dear and that hold us together.

this was not a protest, this was an insurrection. this was a well—organised attack on our country that was incited by donald trump. last time round, every republican voted as a block to back the president. but now, they're spitting three ways. there are those backing his impeachment. today, we make history forever, so choose well. a vote to impeach donald trump means, years from now, you can look your grandchildren in the eye and say, "i did the right thing." there were those questioning the impeachment process, but not backing donald trump. we need to recognise we are following a flawed process. that people of goodwill can differ. we need to recognise that while the house may be done with this matter after today's vote, it will not be done for the country. and a few whose support for donald trump is undimmed. today, the second annual impeachment of president trump isn't _ really about actual - words spoken at a rally. no, this is all about, _

madame speaker, the unbridled hatred of this president. the president made his first foray out of the white house yesterday, warning somewhat ominously that his supporters would be very angry if impeachment went ahead. but today, a new statement issued. today, airbnb announced it was cancelling all bookings in washington for next week. some hotels are doing the same, to stop potential rioters coming in. the capitol is becoming a citadel. that's jon sopel.

i'm joined now by mary mccord, legal director at the institute for constitutional advocacy and protection. mary, the president has been impeached twice, and we have at least 15,000 national members of the national guard here in our capital. it's been an extraordinary week, hasn't it? it it's been an extraordinary week, hasn't it? . , , it's been an extraordinary week, hasn't it?_ and - it's been an extraordinary week, hasn't it?_ and do i it's been an extraordinary week, i hasn't it?_ and do you hasn't it? it has been. and do you think that justice _ hasn't it? it has been. and do you think that justice has _ hasn't it? it has been. and do you think that justice has been - hasn't it? it has been. and do you think thatjustice has been served | think thatjustice has been served by the impeachment of the president, given that the trial will not happen until he's out of office? i given that the trial will not happen until he's out of office?— until he's out of office? i think accountability _ until he's out of office? i think accountability is _ until he's out of office? i think accountability is very, - until he's out of office? i think accountability is very, very - accountability is very, very important here, and there are really four ways to hold the president accountable. one would have been invocation of the 25th amendment, but vice president pence has declined to do that. that would have meant that if a sufficient number of cabinet members determined the president was unfit for office, it could have removed him. that's not

going to happen. impeachment, which happened today, is another option. criminal liability is another option, and certainly, the president's, conduct warrants an investigation to his intent when he was... that he was inciting the crowd. and in civil liability. many people were injured and harmed by these events that he incited. i think it's very important that he be held accountable, and today was a step towards that. i think it's also important, even if the trial doesn't take place until after on inauguration, a conviction of insurrection would bar the president, just like in a court of law, from holding elected office again. and i think that's very, very important, that he not have the opportunity to be in a position like the position he has been in and do the position he has been in and do the kind of damage to the country that he has done this term. we should never have the opportunity

again. b. should never have the opportunity aaain. �* ~ ., , ., ., again. a week after the storming of caitol again. a week after the storming of capitol hill. — again. a week after the storming of capitol hill, we're _ again. a week after the storming of capitol hill, we're getting _ again. a week after the storming of capitol hill, we're getting more - again. a week after the storming ofj capitol hill, we're getting more and more information about who took part in it, all of the videos being allen eyes —— analysed. as you see, the wide range of extremist groups that were there, what does that say to you about the radicalisation of some sections of american society? that's what's particularly _ sections of american society? that's what's particularly dangerous, - sections of american society? that's what's particularly dangerous, i - what's particularly dangerous, i think, about the events in washington, notjust last week but earlier in december and november that were all surrounding this motion of stopping the steel. they were all part of false information about election fraud, false information that was compounded by the president himself. and they all brought together a wide array of people with different levels of extremist ideology, and some not extremist ideology, and some not extremist at all. you have those who

are the most extreme, actually advocating violence to preventjoe biden from becoming president. there were the conspiracy theorist who have been propagating and spreading the lies of the election, and there were also just people, more the lies of the election, and there were alsojust people, more moderate people, who probably honestly and truly believe that mary be there was some election fraud and they wanted to exercise their rights —— that may be. the problem is, they were put all under the same tent and you have this opportunity for those on the more extreme side to really radicalise the others. i'm sure not everyone at the capitol had intended to overrun capital police and invade the building. for to overrun capital police and invade the building-— the building. for sure. i was there. i talked the building. for sure. i was there. i talked to — the building. for sure. i was there. i talked to some _ the building. for sure. i was there. i talked to some of _ the building. for sure. i was there. i talked to some of those - the building. for sure. i was there. i talked to some of those people i the building. for sure. i was there. i i talked to some of those people who genuinely believed that the election had somehow been stolen, but the consequence is now a week later are that we have thousands of national

guard officers here in washington, dc, in the heart of a civilian government, and to the rest of the world, it looks quite militarised. it does, and it's really sad. i've beenin it does, and it's really sad. i've been in the city for more than 30 years, and it's sad to see that, but i think given what happened last week, it is better to err on the side of caution for public safety. there is planning for additional activity, including online planning thatis activity, including online planning that is suggesting more violence on both january 17 as well as 20th. there are also group that think this is a trap and don't want to come back and do anything else in washington onjanuary back and do anything else in washington on january the back and do anything else in washington onjanuary the 20th. but law enforcement has to be prepared, and i hope this won't last long and they'll be able to take down those

offences once we have gotten through the on alternation. —— at the inauguration. the on alternation. -- at the inauguration.— the on alternation. -- at the inauguration. the on alternation. -- at the inau:uration. . , . ., inauguration. thanks very much for “oininu us. inauguration. thanks very much for joining us- the _ inauguration. thanks very much for joining us. the violence _ inauguration. thanks very much for joining us. the violence is - joining us. the violence is something the republicans have been asking him to do more forcefully. he's also said there's never any justification for violence. and he also says he hopes that all americans can overcome the passions of this moment and join together as one american people. iamjoined i am joined either the attorney general of washington, dc.

what is the very latest on your investigations?— investigations? what's very important _ investigations? what's very important to _ investigations? what's very important to the _ investigations? what's very important to the public - investigations? what's very important to the public to l investigations? what's very - important to the public to know is that there are two distinct prosecuting offices. the federal prosecutor for the district of columbia, and they're looking at federal offences. then there's my office, the office of attorney general, who is looking at local offences. our offence is include weapons offences, guns and ammunition �*s that were not registered. they also include a charge called inciting violence. inciting violence is a hard charge to establish. however, it is being investigated and we're deeply concerned about the comments of the speakers before the violence, and of course, one of the speakers was president trump. he course, one of the speakers was president trump.— course, one of the speakers was president trump. course, one of the speakers was president trum -. ., , ~ ., president trump. he was. where have ou not to president trump. he was. where have you got to in — president trump. he was. where have you got to in assessing _ president trump. he was. where have you got to in assessing his _ president trump. he was. where have you got to in assessing his language i you got to in assessing his language when he urged his supporters to be

strong, not to show weakness, to fight? i'm sure it's a very high bar, accusing somebody of incitement to violence, but what your initial assessment? it to violence, but what your initial assessment?— to violence, but what your initial assessment? it is a high bar, and art of assessment? it is a high bar, and part of the _ assessment? it is a high bar, and part of the assessment _ assessment? it is a high bar, and part of the assessment is - assessment? it is a high bar, and| part of the assessment is breaking down those words, breaking down the timing of those words, breaking down the emotion. the emotion of the crowd when they were listening to the president. i think it's also resident asked her who was in the crowd and who committed the violence —— also relevant who was in the crowd. they were not going there for tea or to play cards. these were weapon eyes, militarised, trained individuals focused on causing harm. we also know there were at least seven hate groups. xenophobic folks who don't like people who for who they pray to. words matter, particularly when you talk to a crowd like that. the

particularly when you talk to a crowd like that.— crowd like that. the president himself is _ crowd like that. the president himself is saying _ crowd like that. the president himself is saying there's - crowd like that. the president| himself is saying there's never crowd like that. the president - himself is saying there's never any justification for violence, there are no excuses, there are no exceptions, but it's very murky what happened, particularly whether there is any collaboration by law enforcement. is that something you're also looking at? certainly. there is an _ you're also looking at? certainly. there is an overall— you're also looking at? certainly. there is an overall investigation l you're also looking at? certainly. l there is an overall investigation in regards to the level of security and preparedness that took place at the capital, the level of coordination with our own local police force. i have to tell you, the metropolitan police department and what i've seen performed admirably. they were part of the crew that went in and cleared the capital after all of the chaos and insurrection. but certainly, there were some officers who are now under investigation who appeared to be at least somewhat friendly with

the crowd, and this is not uncommon in the sense that we know that within hate groups, unfortunately, our former within hate groups, unfortunately, ourformer and within hate groups, unfortunately, our former and sometimes current law enforcement and military —— are former. the issue of hate is extraordinary that merit a lot more attention. , ., . ., attention. one democratic lawmaker has said that — attention. one democratic lawmaker has said that she _ attention. one democratic lawmaker has said that she saw— attention. one democratic lawmaker has said that she saw her— attention. one democratic lawmakerj has said that she saw her republican colleagues taking protesters on a tour of the capital of the capital was a storm. that's obviously quite a serious accusation. she called it reconnaissance. are you looking at that as well?— reconnaissance. are you looking at that as well? with respect to those char: es, that as well? with respect to those charges. those _ that as well? with respect to those charges, those would _ that as well? with respect to those charges, those would be _ that as well? with respect to those charges, those would be the - that as well? with respect to those | charges, those would be the subject certainly of congressional oversight, internal reviews on the part of the capitol hill police. also the united states attorney �*s office. my office does not have

jurisdiction to monitor and investigate capital hill police. thank you so forjoining us. we really appreciate your time tonight. thank you. let's ta ke let's take a look at that video from president trump that has been released after his second impeachment. let's take a listen to what you have to say. mr; impeachment. let's take a listen to what you have to say.— what you have to say. my fellow americans- _ what you have to say. my fellow americans- l — what you have to say. my fellow americans. i want _ what you have to say. my fellow americans. i want to _ what you have to say. my fellow americans. i want to speak - what you have to say. my fellow americans. i want to speak to i what you have to say. my fellow l americans. i want to speak to you tonight— americans. i want to speak to you tonight about the troubling events of the _ tonight about the troubling events of the past week. as i have said, the invasion— of the past week. as i have said, the invasion of the us capitol struck— the invasion of the us capitol struck at _ the invasion of the us capitol struck at the very heart of our republic _ struck at the very heart of our republic it _ struck at the very heart of our republic. it angered and appalled nrillions— republic. it angered and appalled millions of americans across the political— millions of americans across the political spectrum. i want to be very— political spectrum. i want to be very clear _ political spectrum. i want to be very clear. i unequivocally condemned the violence that we saw last week _ condemned the violence that we saw last week. violence and vandalism have absolutely no place in our country — have absolutely no place in our country and no place in our movement. making america great again

has always— movement. making america great again has always been about defending the rule of— has always been about defending the rule of law. supporting the men and women _ rule of law. supporting the men and women of— rule of law. supporting the men and women of law enforcement and upholding our nation's most sacred traditions _ upholding our nation's most sacred traditions and values. mob violence .oes traditions and values. mob violence goes against everything i believe in and everything our movement stands for. and everything our movement stands for no— and everything our movement stands for no true — and everything our movement stands for. no true supporter of mine could ever endorse political violence. no true supporter of mine could ever disrespect— true supporter of mine could ever disrespect law enforcement or our great _ disrespect law enforcement or our great american flag. no true supporter of mine could ever threaten _ supporter of mine could ever threaten or harass their fellow americans. if you do any of these things. _ americans. if you do any of these things. you — americans. if you do any of these things, you are not supporting our movement, — things, you are not supporting our movement, you're attacking it and you are _ movement, you're attacking it and you are attacking our country. we cannot _ you are attacking our country. we cannot tolerate it. tragically, over the course — cannot tolerate it. tragically, over the course of the past year, made so difficult _ the course of the past year, made so difficult because of covid—19, we have _ difficult because of covid—19, we have seen— difficult because of covid—19, we have seen political violence spiral out of _

have seen political violence spiral out of control. we have seen too many _ out of control. we have seen too many riots, _ out of control. we have seen too many riots, too many mobs, too many acts of— many riots, too many mobs, too many acts of intimidation and destruction. it must stop. whether you are _ destruction. it must stop. whether you are on — destruction. it must stop. whether you are on the right or on the left, a denrocrat— you are on the right or on the left, a democrat or a republican, there is never— a democrat or a republican, there is never a _ a democrat or a republican, there is never a justification for violence. no excuses, no exceptions. america is a nation _ no excuses, no exceptions. america is a nation of— no excuses, no exceptions. america is a nation of laws. those who engaged — is a nation of laws. those who engaged in the attack last week will be brought tojustice. engaged in the attack last week will be brought to justice.— be brought to 'ustice. president trum be brought to 'ustice. president trump there — be brought tojustice. president trump there in _ be brought tojustice. president trump there in a _ be brought tojustice. president trump there in a message - be brought tojustice. president trump there in a message that| be brought to justice. president. trump there in a message that was released after he was impeached for the second time. notably, he doesn't address that impeachment. the house has convicted him of an incitement insurrection after what happened on the capital last week, when the mob stormed the capital, but the president does disavow his supporters who took place in that.

very strongly saying no true supporter of mine could ever threaten or harass their little man. i'm laura trevelyan in washington, dc -- i'm laura trevelyan in washington, dc —— their fellow man. hello there. we have wet weather across many parts of the country at the moment but it is notjust rain. we have snow falling too. increasingly across scotland and northern england. we have this amber heavy snow warning from the met office. these are the main areas of concern. snow across other parts of scotland and northern england. this is where we are expecting the heaviest snow to be. over the 20 cm by late morning on thursday. over the hills, 20 cm by late morning on thursday. and some snow to lower levels as well inland. we have seen this band of cloud on that front moving its way slowly eastward. whilst we see milder air out towards the west, there is still cold air across northern and eastern parts of britain. that's why we are seeing the rain turning increasingly to snow over the hills. quite a range of temperatures early on thursday morning.

that wintry mix of rain and sleet and snow continues across much of scotland and northern england throughout thursday. wetter weather in the midlands down towards the southeast and we could see a bit of sleet and snow in that across lincolnshire for a while in the midlands. it will be colder underneath that wet weather. temperatures two to 4 degrees. colder still over the high ground. much milderfor northern ireland and wales in the southwest where it will be drier and some sunshine on the way for northern ireland. during the evening and overnight, we will find a lot of that wet weather, that wintry mix petering out, so it does become drier by the time we get to friday morning. but we are likely to have a widespread frost and that will lead to some icy conditions as well as that covering of snow. things are drying off because we are seeing this little ridge of high pressure building in from the southwest. the winds are going to be light across many parts of the country. we will be left with probably a lot of cloud around. there may well be some quite low cloud and some fog which will be slow to lift.

probably the best of the sunshine towards northeastern parts of scotland and improving towards the southwest as well. temperatures here lower than they have been over the past 2a hours. for many parts of the country, it will be another chilly day. a weather front sweeping across the country early into the weekend and behind that we get more of a northwesterly airflow, so for a while early on of rain and maybe some snow over the hills, it is soon replaced by sunshine and the rest of the weekend should be sunny and it will still be rather blustery.

this is bbc world news.

the headlines: donald trump has become the first president in us history to be impeached twice — after last week's assault on capitol hill. ten republicansjoined democrats in voting for the president to face trial for inciting insurrection. as the speaker nancy pelosi signed the articles of impeachment, she said president trump represented a clear and present danger to the united states and no—one was above the law. the formal charge comes after a violent mob of his supporters stormed the capitol — it's now surrounded by a ring of steel — with just a week left of the trump presidency. in a statement released via the white house twitter account, president trump says there is never any justification for violence and he urges americans to be 'united'. he makes no mention of his impeachment.