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After Donald Trump's supporters stormed the Capitol, preparations for a second impeachment proceedings against the elected US president are picking up speed.

Democratic Congressman Ted Lieu told CNN on Saturday that he and his colleagues would prefer the Republican to step down or for Vice President Mike Pence to take steps to impeach him.

If neither happens, the Democrats would bring a resolution to impeach Trump in the House of Representatives on Monday.

"We expect a vote in plenary next week."

Lieu is co-author of the draft resolution, which lists a single charge against Trump: "incitement to riot".

Trump is accused of inciting his supporters at a rally - many of them stormed the Capitol afterwards.

Trump has continued his efforts to hinder the certification of the results of the presidential election, the draft said.

With his behavior, Trump had shown "that he will remain a threat to national security, democracy and the constitution if he is allowed to remain in office".

He must therefore be removed from office and blocked for future government offices.

Lieu said the demonstrators, spurred on by Trump, wanted to bring about a "violent overthrow of Congress" while the election results were being certified.

There are several Republican Congressmen who want to vote for the resolution.

180 Democratic MPs have already signed the draft resolution.

The House of Representatives - which is controlled by the Democrats - can initiate impeachment proceedings with a simple majority of 218 MPs.

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However, the process would be decided in the US Senate.

The two-thirds majority required there for Trump's impeachment is currently not foreseeable.

In addition, it is virtually impossible that the process in the Senate could be completed before the swearing-in of Democratic President-elect Joe Biden and his Vice-President Kamala Harris on January 20.

The Senate will not meet for its next regular session until January 19.

A memorandum from the Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, circulated by the Washington Post, states that under the current rules, proceedings could begin at 1:00 p.m. on January 20 at the earliest - one hour after Biden's swearing-in and Trump's departure Office.

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