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Cedric Richmond, the Democratic congressman who is leaving the House to join Joe Biden’s administration, delivered a fiery speech in support of Donald Trump’s impeachment.

The Louisiana Democrat noted that, during the president’s first impeachment, his party warned Trump would carry out more attacks on American democracy if he were not removed from office.

“Simply put, we told you so,” Richmond said. Nodding at his imminent departure from the House, he then added, “Richmond out.”

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell’s office has said there will be no impeachment trial before 19 January, when the chamber is currently set to return from recess.

McConnell’s press secretary confirmed the Washington Post’s report on the timing on the trial.

Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer had called for the chamber to return early to take up the impeachment of Donald Trump, but McConnell is apparently declining to do so.

The decision means that Trump’s impeachment trial will overlap with the first days of Joe Biden’s presidency.

Adam Schiff, who served as the lead impeachment manager during Donald Trump’s first impeachment trial, said the Capitol riot represented “the most dangerous moment for our democracy in a century.”

“Today, we invoke the remedy the founders provided for just such a lawless president: impeachment,” Schiff said.

The California Democrat added, “More important, today we begin the long road to restoration. … To preserve this sacred place, this citadel of democracy, for ourselves and for posterity, let us say enough. Enough.”

Jim Jordan, one of the president’s congressional attack dogs, argued against the impeachment of Donald Trump for inciting a violent mob to attack the Capitol by condemning “cancel culture”.

“We should be focused on bringing the nation together. Instead, Democrats are going to impeach the president for a second time one week, one week before he leaves office. Why?” Jordan said. “They want to cancel the president.”

Jordan added, “It won’t just be the president of the United States. The cancel culture will come for us all.”

In reality, Democrats have said they want to impeach the president for a second time because Trump incited a violent mob to attack the Capitol, resulting in five deaths.

Moments ago, Pelosi argued Trump “must go” because he represents “a clear and present danger to the nation we all love”.

Nancy Pelosi described January 6, when a violent mob stormed the Capitol, as a “day of fire.” George W Bush used the same phrase to describe the September 11 attacks.

“We know that the president of the United States incited this insurrection, armed rebellion, against our common country,” the Democratic speaker said.

Pelosi argued it was a vital necessity to impeach the president, but she said of the need to impeach, “It breaks my heart. It should break your heart. It should break all of our hearts.”

The speaker said she stood before the chamber today as “an officer of the constitution.” “Search your souls,” Pelosi said, “is the president’s war on democracy in keeping with the constitution?”

House speaker Nancy Pelosi kicked off the two hours of debate on the article of impeachment against Donald Trump.

The Democratic speaker began her remarks by quoting Abraham Lincoln, saying, “We cannot escape history. We… will be remembered in spite of ourselves.”

Pelosi argued Trump must be removed from office because he represents a clear threat to national security.

“He must go,” Pelosi said. “He is a clear and present danger to the nation we all love.”

The article of impeachment, incitement of insurrection, is now being read on the House floor before the debate begins.

The article reads, in part, “In his conduct while President of the United States — and in violation of his constitutional oath faithfully to execute the office of President of the United States and, to the best of his ability, preserve, provide, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States and in violation of his constitutional duty to take care that the laws be faithfully executed — Donald John Trump engaged in high Crimes and Misdemeanors by inciting violence against the Government of the United States …

“Donald John Trump, by such conduct, has demonstrated that he will remain a threat to national security, democracy, and the Constitution if allowed to remain in office, and has acted in a manner grossly incompatible with self-governance and the rule of law. Donald John Trump thus warrants impeachment and trial, removal from office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any office of honor, trust, or profit under the United States.”

The House has voted 221-203 to begin debate on the article of impeachment, incitement of insurrection, against Donald Trump.

The House will now debate the article for two hours, with a final vote on impeachment expected later this afternoon.

House speaker Nancy Pelosi went outside to thank the National Guard troops who are protecting the Capitol today, as members vote on the article of impeachment against Donald Trump.

The Democratic speaker also presented the troops with her challenge coin as a token of appreciation, per NBC News.