Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday launched a formal impeachment inquiry into President
Donald Trump, accusing him of seeking foreign help to smear
Democratic rival
Joe Biden ahead of next year's election.
The inquiry ensures a partisan fight in
Congress and on the presidential campaign trail in coming months, energizing the most committed
Republican and Democratic supporters and overshadowing the Democratic race for the nomination to face Trump in the November 2020 election.
House Speaker
Nancy Pelosi announced the inquiry after a closed-door meeting with Democratic lawmakers, saying Trump's actions undermined national security and violated the U.S. Constitution.