House panel delays impeachment articles vote

The U.S. House vote to move forward with impeaching President Donald Trump was delayed.

A hearing on Thursday - lasted more than 14 hours.

But as the clock ticked towards midnight, Democratic Judiciary chair Jerry Nadler sent lawmakers home.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) HOUSE JUDICIARY CHAIR, JERRY NADLER)

"It has been a long two days of consideration of these articles and it is now very late at night. I want the members on both sides of the aisle to think about what has happened over these past two days and to search their consciences before we cast our final vote."

The committee will now stand in recess until Friday morning at 10 am.

Democrats had expected to wrap up the hearing early.

But Republicans, led by Doug Collins, proposed a series of amendments, dragging things out with hours of remarks.

They frequently repeated the same prepared commentary and veered topics from drilling natural gas to the state of the economy.

And at the end - Collins appeared shocked by the delay.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE RANKING MEMBER, DOUG COLLINS

"I have just witnessed the most bush-league stunt I have ever witnessed in my professional life and I've been around a lot of political campaigns."

Trump is charged with abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.

He denies any wrongdoing and has called the impeachment inquiry unfair.

If the House impeaches Trump, he would then go on trial in the Senate a chamber where Republicans hold the majority.