HOUSE Speaker Nancy Pelosi yesterday announced the opening of a formal impeachment inquiry into US President Donald Trump, saying he violated the constitution by seeking help from Ukraine to hurt Democratic opponent Joe Biden.

“The actions of the Trump presidency revealed the dishonourable fact of the president’s betrayal of his oath of office, betrayal of our national security and betrayal of the integrity of our elections.

“Therefore, today, I’m announcing that the House of Representatives is moving forward with an official impeachment inquiry.”

Pelosi spoke after meeting fellow members of the Democratic House caucus, where impeachment calls are surging despite concerns by the leadership that the move could hurt their chances in the election next year.

The announcement was sparked by a scandal over Trump’s reported attempt to pressure the incoming president of Ukraine to open a corruption investigation into Biden, his main challenger for the White House, and the Democrat’s son, Hunter.

Triggering the confrontation was an as-yet secret whistle-blower complaint centred on Trump’s phone call on July 25 with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

The White House has refused to release to Congress the secret complaint from an intelligence community whistle-blower that reportedly depicts Trump as seeking help from Ukraine to fight Biden, currently the Democratic Party’s front runner for the presidential nomination.

Trump has admitted that he spoke to Zelensky about Biden in the call, and yesterday said he had halted aid to the country temporarily before it was unfrozen last week.

But, he rejected charges that the two were tied, saying the aid freeze was to prod European countries to increase their support for the Ukrainian government.

Pelosi had been stiffly resisting impeachment, hoping to keep the focus on capturing the Senate and White House next year.

But after seven moderate Democrats declared themselves in support of a full-blown impeachment probe on Monday, analysts counted at least 170 of the party’s 235 House members in support.

“I was there… in the 1990s when we wrote the whistle-blower laws, and continued to write them to ensure the security of our intelligence and the safety of our whistle-blowers,” said Pelosi.

“I know what their purpose was. And, we proceeded with balance and caution as we wrote the laws.

“I can say with authority that the Trump administration’s actions undermine our national security and our intelligence – and our protection of whistle-blowers, more than both.” – AFP, September 25, 2019.