On Thursday, a sharply divided U.S. House of Representatives formally approved a resolution "directing certain committees to continue their ongoing investigations as part of the existing House of Representatives inquiry into whether sufficient grounds exist for the House of Representatives to exercise its Constitutional power to impeach Donald John Trump, President of the United States of America, and for other purposes."
The "certain committees" are the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and the committees on Financial Services, Foreign Affairs, the Judiciary, Oversight and Reform, and Ways and Means
The vote was along party lines, 232 to 196. Two Democrats defected from their colleagues and voted against.
Republicans say the vote amounts to little more than a "coup" attempt against a sitting president. Democrats say the president's own actions regarding an alleged quid-pro-quo demand from the Ukrainian government, tying military aid to an investigation of former Vice President Joe Biden and his son, Hunter.
President Trump has denied any quid pro quo regarding military aid.
Both sides have argued back and forth over what the resolution means and doesn't mean. But in reality what this boils down to is the Democrats have shown they have the votes for impeachment. But, as we've noted here before, they do not have the votes in the Senate to convict.
So while the impeachment process may embarrass the president, he is unlikely to face any real jeopardy.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi made a big show just before the vote, standing before an American flag placard and proclaiming Congress was "defending our democracy."
But Democrats in Congress are just playing politics as usual. A lot of show, with little possibility of substance.