Democrats deliver Donald Trump impeachment charge to US Senate with only three Republicans present.

Extract from ABC News 

Posted Yesterday at 4:30pm, updated Yesterday at 4:46pm

House Democrats, accompanied by the Clerk of the House (left) and the acting Sergeant-at-Arms (right), carried the charge to the Senate.(AP: Manuel Balce Ceneta)

The US House of Representatives has delivered to the Senate the impeachment charge that former president Donald Trump "incited insurrection", setting his second impeachment trial in motion.

Key points:

• Senate Democrats will need the support of 17 Republicans to convict Donald Trump in the evenly divided chamber
• President Joe Biden reportedly said he did not believe there would be enough votes to convict Mr Trump
• The Senate is expected to start a trial on February 9 on the article of impeachment against the former president

Nine House Democrats, to serve as prosecutors in Mr Trump's trial, accompanied by the Clerk of the House and the acting Sergeant-at-Arms, carried the charge against Mr Trump to the Senate in a solemn procession across the Capitol on Monday evening (local time).

Wearing face masks, they filed through the ornate Capitol Rotunda and into the Senate chamber, following the path that a mob of Trump supporters took on January 6 as they clashed with police.

On arrival in the Senate, the lead House impeachment manager, Representative Jamie Raskin, read out the charge:

"Donald John Trump engaged in high crimes and misdemeanours by inciting violence against the Government of the United States."

Ten House Republicans joined Democrats in voting to impeach Trump on January 13.

But Senate Democrats will need the support of 17 Republicans to convict him in the evenly divided chamber.

Joe Biden said on Monday he did not believe there would be enough votes to convict Mr Trump, according to CNN, citing a brief interview with the President.

LIVE UPDATES: Catch up on the main news in US politics from January 26 in our blog.

Over 30 Democrats were present to hear Mr Raskin's remarks, but just three Republicans: Senate party leader Mitch McConnell, Senator Mitt Romney and Senator Roger Marshall, who was just elected in November.

Capitol Police were scattered along the politicians' route from the House to the Senate, and security around the Capitol remained tight, with roads closed off and barbed wire-topped fencing.

Many of the National Guard troops deployed after January 6 had been sent home, but thousands remained.

Some Republican politicians have said holding a trial now would violate the Constitution as Donald Trump is no longer president.(AP: Luis M Alvarez)

Senate trial to start early next month

Mr Trump is the only US president to have been impeached by the House twice and is set to become the first to face trial after leaving office.

His term ended on January 20.

The Senate is expected to start a trial on February 9 on the article of impeachment against Mr Trump.

The 100 senators are due to serve as jurors in proceedings that could result in Mr Trump's disqualification from ever again serving as president.

A number of Republican politicians have objected to the impeachment, some arguing that it would be a violation of the constitution to hold a trial now because Mr Trump is no longer president.

"I still have concerns about the constitutionality of this, and then the precedent it sets in trying to convict a private citizen," Republican senator Joni Ernst said.

"So in the future, can this be used against [former] president [Barack] Obama?" she asked.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat, rejected that argument on Monday.

"The theory that the Senate can't try former officials would amount to a constitutional get-out-of-jail-free card for any president," Mr Schumer told the Senate.

Reuters