The U.S. House of Representatives will begin an impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump, according to Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Tuesday.

For months, Pelosi had been reluctant to launch impeachment proceedings against Trump. However, the pressure from Democrats increased in the wake of a national security whistleblower complaint, which involved Trump’s conversation with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky. The DNI Inspector General said the whistleblower complaint “met the definition of an urgent concern.”

Pelosi says Trump must be held accountable 

In her speech, the House Speaker explained that the impeachment inquiry is necessary to preserve the checks and balances of the government. She emphasized that under the Constitution, the three branches of the government are co-equal. However, the President took actions that “have seriously violated the Constitution” because he believes he can do whatever he wants.

Pelosi said, “Our republic endures because of the wisdom of our Constitution, enshrined in three co-equal branches of government, serving as checks and balances on each other. The actions taken to date by the President have seriously violated the Constitution – especially when the President says, ‘Article II says, I can do whatever I want.’”

Additionally, she said that their Committees have been investigating and litigating in the courts to obtain all relevant facts to determine if the House must exercise it constitutional authority to approve articles of impeachment.

“This week, the President has admitted to asking the President of Ukraine to take actions which would benefit him politically.  The action of – the actions of the Trump Presidency revealed the dishonorable fact of the President’s betrayal of his oath of office, betrayal of our national security, and betrayal of the integrity of our elections. Therefore, today, I’m announcing the House of Representatives is moving forward with an official impeachment inquiry…The President must be held accountable.  No one is above the law, said Pelosi.”

Trump slams impeachment inquiry as a “witch hunt”

Earlier on Tuesday, Trump told reporters that the calls for an impeachment inquiry against him were “ridiculous” and a “witch hunt.”

President also tweeted, “Such an important day at the United Nations, so much work and so much success, and the Democrats purposely had to ruin and demean it with more breaking news Witch Hunt garbage. So bad for our Country!”

He also called the impeachment inquiry a “presidential harassment.”