Trump and allies push Congress to expunge his impeachments

President Donald Trump and his allies are urging Congress to pass a resolution aimed at voiding the two impeachment votes he faced during his first term, according to White House officials. The push, confirmed on Thursday, seeks a symbolic reversal of the 2019 and 2021 impeachments, though constitutional experts note there is no formal mechanism to expunge such a record.

The effort has gained momentum among some Republican lawmakers. Representative Darrell Issa of California has introduced legislation to have the impeachments expunged as if the articles had never passed the House. House Speaker Mike Johnson has voiced support, calling the impeachments "sham" efforts and a "hyperpartisan attack job," though he indicated it was not the top legislative priority. The measure has attracted 23 cosponsors. However, securing enough support for passage is not guaranteed, with some Republicans, like Representative Don Bacon of Nebraska, criticizing the move as politically unwise and noting that "what happened is history."

Trump was first impeached by the House in 2019 over allegations he abused power by pressuring Ukraine to investigate then-rival Joe Biden ahead of the 2020 election. He...