A Democratic-controlled House of Representatives committee on Friday took Republican President Donald Trump to the brink of impeachment when it approved two charges against him stemming from his efforts to pressure Ukraine to investigate Democratic political rival Joe Biden.

A deeply divided House Judiciary Committee voted 23-17 to approve articles of impeachment charging Trump with both abusing the power of his office over Ukraine and obstructing House Democrats’ attempts to investigate him for it. If the full House votes next week to impeach Trump, the Republican will become the third US President to be impeached.

In congressional hearings that have gripped Washington, Democrats have accused the President of endangering the US Constitution, jeopardising national security and undermining the integrity of the 2020 election.