Hawzah News Agency - (Washington - US) - The Democratic-led House of Representatives has voted to send formal impeachment charges against US President Donald Trump to the Senate, a move that launches a trial in the upper chamber.

Lawmakers on Wednesday voted 228 to 193 to give the Senate the task of putting Trump on trial on charges of abuse of power for pressuring Ukraine for personal political gain and of obstruction of Congress for blocking testimony and documents sought by Democratic lawmakers, Reuters reported.

The vote was scheduled by Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) after a month of speculation over timing.

The vote was largely along party lines, but Rep. Collin Peterson (D-Minn.) was the only Democrat who voted against the impeachment articles, while Rep. Justin Amash (I-Mich.), who switched from Republican to Independent last year, voted in favor of the resolution.

The vote also approved a team of seven impeachment managers who will prosecute the case against Trump in the Senate. They were named by House Speaker Pelosi.

"We are here today to cross a very important threshold in American history," Pelosi said on the House floor before the vote.

Pelosi earlier named House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff the "lead" impeachment manager. She highlighted Schiff separately as "lead manager" in a statement issued during the announcement.