U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to face an impeachment vote for abusing power in a bid to pressure a foreign country to investigate a political rival, as well as for obstructing Congress' probe into the scandal, Democrats leading the process said Tuesday.

Their announcement of two draft articles of impeachment is the latest sign that Trump is on track to be impeached by the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives, making him the third American president to suffer the disgrace. The vote may take place before Christmas.

But the chance of him being ousted from the presidency remains slim, as removal would require conviction in a trial by the Senate, which is controlled by Trump's Republican Party.

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"We must be clear, no one, not even the president is above the law," House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler said as he announced the impeachment charges against Trump.

The two draft articles of impeachment will first need to be approved by the committee, which is likely to happen later this week, before the full House votes on them.

Trump has been under fire for asking the Ukraine leader in a July phone call to investigate former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, who is seeking the Democratic nomination for the next presidential election, and his son Hunter Biden, who had served on the board of a Ukrainian energy company suspected of corruption.

"Using the powers of his high office, President Trump solicited interference of a foreign government, Ukraine, in the 2020 U.S. presidential election," a draft resolution for the impeachment said, asserting that Trump engaged in misconduct for "corrupt purposes in pursuit of personal political benefit."

It also said Trump allegedly withheld congressionally approved military aid to Ukraine, which was crucial in the country's fight against Russian aggression, in an attempt to pressure Ukraine to publically announce investigations into the Bidens.

The $391 million in military assistance was eventually released to Ukraine following public revelation of his actions, but Trump has continued to openly urge Ukraine to undertake investigations for his personal political benefit, it said.

"Wherefore President Trump, by such conduct, has demonstrated that he will remain a threat to national security and the Constitution if allowed to remain in office...President Trump thus warrants impeachment and trial, removal from office," the draft resolution said.

Trump reacted angrily on Twitter, claiming it is "ridiculous" to say that he pressured Ukraine to interfere in the election next year.

"Both the President & Foreign Minister of Ukraine said, many times, that there 'WAS NO PRESSURE,'" he said.

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While Trump has denied any wrongdoing, the Democrats have pushed ahead with the impeachment proceedings since late September following a whistleblower complaint on the issue.

Nadler said at the press conference that the matter requires urgency because "the integrity of our next election is at risk from a president who has already sought foreign interference."

Trump has also allegedly obstructed the inquiry undertaken by the House, such as by directing government officials not to comply with subpoenas.

The president has directed "the unprecedented, categorical and indiscriminate defiance of subpoenas issued by the House of Representatives," the draft resolution said.

Impeachment of the president requires the support of a majority of House members. If the House votes to impeach, a trial would be held in the Senate, with a two-thirds vote needed to convict the president and remove him from office.

The U.S. Constitution says the president shall be removed from office after impeachment for, and conviction of, "treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors."

In U.S. history, only two presidents have been impeached -- Andrew Johnson in 1868 and Bill Clinton in 1998 -- but neither was removed from office as the Senate acquitted them.