'Do it now': Trump tells Democrats to impeach him 'fast' so there can be a 'fair trial' in the Senate

David Jackson | USA TODAY

Show Caption Hide Caption Legal scholars weigh Trump impeachment charges Four law school professors are giving lessons on American history and presidential politics as they testify in the House impeachment inquiry. (Dec. 4)

WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump told House Democrats early Thursday that if they want to impeach him, go ahead and "do it."

"If you are going to impeach me, do it now, fast, so we can have a fair trial in the Senate, and so that our Country can get back to business," Trump tweeted.

The statement came shortly before House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., announced she authorized committee chairmen to pursue articles of impeachment against Trump over his dealings with Ukraine.

“The president abused his power for his own personal political benefit," Pelosi said.

After her announcement, Trump issued more tweets accusing the Democrats of playing politics and predicting he would be acquitted by the Senate anyway.

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Denying wrongdoing, Trump tweeted that this case means the "seldom used act of Impeachment will be used routinely to attack future Presidents."

"The good thing is that the Republicans have NEVER been more united. We will win!" he said.

....This will mean that the beyond important and seldom used act of Impeachment will be used routinely to attack future Presidents. That is not what our Founders had in mind. The good thing is that the Republicans have NEVER been more united. We will win! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 5, 2019

The tweets came a day after the House Judiciary Committee heard from legal scholars who said Trump committed impeachable offenses when he tried to pressure Ukraine to investigate his political opponent, Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden.

"Our report found Trump withheld military aid and a WH meeting to get help with his re-election," tweeted Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, which conducted an investigation of the president.

The Do Nothing Democrats had a historically bad day yesterday in the House. They have no Impeachment case and are demeaning our Country. But nothing matters to them, they have gone crazy. Therefore I say, if you are going to impeach me, do it now, fast, so we can have a fair.... — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 5, 2019

In his tweets Thursday, Trump said the Democrats had a "bad" hearing and "have no impeachment case" against him. "But nothing matters to them," he added, "they have gone crazy."

If the Democrat-run House votes to impeach Trump in the next several weeks, the matter then moves to the Republican-led Senate for a trial.

Trump tweeted that his allies would try to subpoena Schiff, Pelosi, Biden and other Democrats to reveal "how corrupt our system really is."

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Trump returned to the White House on Wednesday after a trip to NATO meetings in the United Kingdom that were dominated by impeachment talk.

Trump allies denounced Pelosi's announcement and, like the president, predicted acquittal in the Senate.

"@SpeakerPelosi & the Democrats should be ashamed," tweeted White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham. "@realDonaldTrump has done nothing but lead our country - resulting in a booming economy, more jobs & a stronger military, to name just a few of his major accomplishments."

She added: "We look forward to a fair trial in the Senate."