On Jan. 15, 2020, U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi signed articles of impeachment against President Donald J. Trump. It was only the third time in U.S. history that a president has been impeached.
During the subsequent impeachment trial, news reporters were allowed on the balcony of the Senate chamber to witness but not photograph or voice-record the activity taking place below on the Senate floor. Access to the jurors (the senators) was limited to catching them while in transit and during impromptu press availabilities.
Outside the building, the public tried to make itself heard.
The photos that follow were taken to document the spectacle surrounding the impeachment trial during these historic days.
View Jeff Malet’s photos relating to the impeachment trail by clicking on the photo icons below.
(Jan. 15) House Speaker Nancy Pelosi named seven impeachment managers who will prosecute the case against President Trump in the Senate, at a press conference on Capitol Hill. (Photo by Jeff Malet)
(Jan. 15) The actual resolution to transmit to the Senate two articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump to be signed by Nancy Pelosi. (Photo by Jeff Malet)
(Jan. 15) Speaker Pelosi used several pens to sign the impeachment document. (Photo by Jeff Malet)
(Jan. 15) House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, surrounded by the House impeachment managers and committee chairs, signs the resolution to transmit to the Senate two articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump.. (Photo by Jeff Malet)
(Jan. 16) House Speaker Nancy Pelosi held her weekly press conference one hour before the Senate opened its impeachment trial against President Donald Trump. (Photo by Jeff Malet)
(Jan. 16) The Chief Justice of the United States, John G. Roberts Jr., enters the Senate Chamber for his swearing in. (Photo by Jeff Malet)
(Jan. 16) The seven impeachment managers approach the Senate Chamber.. (Photo by Jeff Malet)
(Jan. 16) Activists spell out “REMOVE TRUMP” inside the central atrium of the Hart Senate Office Building.. (Photo by Jeff Malet)
(Jan. 16) Senate Leader Mitch McConnell waves to the press after being sworn in. (Photo by Jeff Malet)
(Jan. 19) The impeachment of Preisdent Trump was one of the main themes at the 2020 Women’s March in D.C. (all photos by Jeff Malet)
(Jan. 21) Senator Diane Feinstein (D-Calif.) walks past reporters as she enters the Senate Chamber. (Photo by Jeff Malet)
(Jan. 21) My ticket to enter the Senate Chamber to observe. Cameras and cell phones not allowed inside. (Photo by Jeff Malet)
(Jan. 23) Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) holds one of his daily 11 a.m. press conferences. (photo by Jeff Malet)
(Jan 23) Trump’s defenders talk to reporters: they are Reps. Mike Johnson (R-La.), Mark Meadows (R-N.C.), Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), Lee Zeldin (R-N.Y.) and Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) (photo by Jeff Malet)
(Jan 23) Presidential candidate Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) would rather be in Iowa. (photo by Jeff Malet)
(Jan. 25) Sen. Murkowski (R-Alaska) is approached by reporters for comments. (Photo by Jeff Malet)
(Jan. 25) Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), along with his other impeqchment managers, held a news conference following the first day of opening arguments by the president’s defense team in the impeachment trial. (Photo by Jeff Malet)
(Jan. 25) Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), along with his other impeqchment managers, held a news conference following the first day of opening arguments by the president’s defense team in the impeachment trial. (Photo by Jeff Malet)
(Jan. 25) Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.) (in photo), along with Adam Schiff and the other Democratic impeqchment managers, held a news conference following the first day of opening arguments by the president’s defense team in the impeachment trial.. (Photo by Jeff Malet)
(Jan. 25) Rep. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.) talks to reporters prior to the first day of opening arguments by the president’s defense team in the impeachment trial. (Photo by Jeff Malet)
(Jan. 28) NBC News Capitol Hill correspondent Kasie Hunt broadcasts live minutes before Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), along with other Senate Democrats, held a news conference on the last day of opening arguments by the president’s defense team in the impeachment trial. (Photo by Jeff Malet)
(Jan. 28) Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.) holds the official transcript of President Donald Trump’s conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelensky to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden, and his son, Hunter, during a July 25 phone call. (Photo by Jeff Malet)
(Jan. 28) Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), along with other Senate Democrats, held a news conference on the last day of opening arguments by the president’s defense team in the impeachment trial against President Trump. (Photo by Jeff Malet)
(Jan. 28) Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) is surrounded by reporters on the last day of opening arguments by the president’s defense team in the impeachment trial. (Photo by Jeff Malet)
(Jan. 28) Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.)) is surrounded by reporters on the last day of opening arguments by the president’s defense team in the impeachment trial. (Photo by Jeff Malet)
(Jan. 28) Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) is mobbed by reporters on the last day of opening arguments by the president’s defense team in the impeachment trial. (Photo by Jeff Malet)
(Jan. 28) Sen. Mike Lee is racing to the Senate Chamber on the last day of opening arguments by the president’s defense team in the impeachment trial.. (Photo by Jeff Malet)
(Jan. 28) Heidi Przybyla of NBC News (right) spars with Reps. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) and Mike Johnson (R-La.). (Photo by Jeff Malet)
(Jan. 28) Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) talks to reporters after the President’s defence team presented their closing arguments. (Photo by Jeff Malet)
(Jan. 29) Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) speaks to reporters on the first day that Senators asked questions of the House impeachment managers and the presidentÕs defense team. (Photo by Jeff Malet)
(Jan. 29) Lev Parnas’s attorney Joseph A. Bondy (right) was not able to get his client access to the imeachment trial..(Photo by Jeff Malet)
(Jan. 28) House Intelligence Committee Chairman Rep.Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and House Judiciary Committee Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.) spearheaded the impeachment effort in Congress. (Photo by Jeff Malet)
(Jan. 28) Rep. Adam Schiff and the impeachment managers hold a press conference at the conclusion of the last day of opening arguments by the president’s defense team. Photo by Jeff Malet.
(Jan. 29) Hundreds of anti- Trump demonstrators flooded the 1st floor atrium of the Hart Senate Office Bldg. (Photo by Jeff Malet)
(Jan. 29) Hundreds of anti- Trump demonstrators flooded the 1st floor atrium of the Hart Senate Office Bldg. (Photo by Jeff Malet)
(Jan. 29) Hundreds of anti- Trump demonstrators flooded the 1st floor atrium of the Hart Senate Office Bldg. (Photo by Jeff Malet)
(Jan. 29) Hundreds of anti- Trump demonstrators flooded the 1st floor atrium of the Hart Senate Office Bldg. (Photo by Jeff Malet)
(Jan. 29) Hundreds of anti- Trump demonstrators flooded the 1st floor atrium of the Hart Senate Office Bldg. (Photo by Jeff Malet)
(Jan. 30) Speaker Pelosi said Trump “will not be acquitted. You cannot be acquitted if you don’t have a trial and you don’t have a trial if you don’t have witnesses and documentation.”. (Photo by Jeff Malet)
(Jan. 30) Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) says Trump is next going after social security benefits. (Photo by Jeff Malet)
(Jan. 30) Sen. John Cornyn (R_Texas) talks to reporters ahead of the second day of questioning by senators. (Photo by Jeff Malet)
(Jan. 30) Sen. Mike Braun (R-Ind.) talks to reporters ahead of the second day of questioning by senators. (Photo by Jeff Malet)
Rep. Adam Schiff (D-California) talks to reporters on Jan. 30, ahead of the second day of questioning by senators during the impeachment trial. Photo by Jeff Malet.
(Jan. 31) Activists blocked a portion of Pennsylvania Ave. during the morning rush hour unfurling a 600 square foot banner displaying the Impeachment Clause of the U.S. Constitution. (Photo by Jeff Malet)
(Jan. 31) Activists blocked a portion of Pennsylvania Ave. during the morning rush hour. (Photo by Jeff Malet)
(Jan. 31) Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), along with other Senate Democrats, held a news conference ahead of the vote on whether to consider witnesses and documents. (Photo by Jeff Malet)
(Jan. 31) Senator Patty Murray said Senate Republicans “are about to chose a coverup rather than a fair trial … the full truth will come out.”. (Photo by Jeff Malet)
(Jan. 31) Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) “you cannot have a true acquittal if you do not have a fair trial.”. (Photo by Jeff Malet)
(Jan. 31) Hundreds of lawyers from 28 states walked past the Capitol to the Supreme Court in Washington D.C. to demand ‘impartial justice’ in Preisident Trump’s impeachment trial. (Photo by Jeff Malet)
(Jan. 31) A smiling Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell enters the Senate Chamber knowing he has the votes to prevent witnesses from testifying at the impeachment trail.. (Photo by Jeff Malet)
(Jan 31.) Anti-Trump protesters wait outside the Senate Wing of the U.S. Capitol. (Photo by Jeff Malet)
(Jan 31.) Anti-Trump protesters stand outside the Senate Wing of the U.S. Capitol.. (Photo by Jeff Malet)
(Jan 31.) Anti-Trump protesters stand outside the Senate Wing of the U.S. Capitol. (Photo by Jeff Malet)
(Jan 31.) Anti-Trump protesters stand outside the Senate Wing of the U.S. Capitol. (Photo by Jeff Malet)
(Jan 31.) Anti-Trump protesters wait outside the Senate Wing of the U.S. Capitol.. (Photo by Jeff Malet)