The House has delivered its articles of impeachment against Donald Trump to the Senate, marking the beginning of the first Senate trial of the former president.

In a ceremonial procession across the US Capitol, nine House impeachment managers carried an impeachment charge against Trump.

Representative Jamie Raskin, the lead impeachment manager and a constitutional law scholar, stood before the Senate and formally told the 100-member body that the managers were prepared to leave the prosecution of the former president.

In the video below, Trump addresses his second impeachment:

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"Donald John Trump engaged in high crimes and misdemeanors by inciting violence against the government of the United States," he said, reading the article aloud.

The delivery and formal reading of the charge marks the beginning of the former president's second impeachment trial.

Last week, Senate leaders agreed to delay proceedings for two weeks in order to give the chamber time to consider President Biden's nominations and for Trump's defense to prepare their case.

Biden told CNN Trump's trial "has to happen" on Monday, even though it is unlikely that Trump will be convicted by his fellow Republicans.

Senator Patrick Leahy, the Senate president pro tempore, presided from behind the dais during the trial - a job that was previously occupied by chief justice John Roberts during Trump's first impeachment.

The chief justice of the supreme court must oversee the trial of a president, according to the constitution, however, it is unclear who should preside over the proceedings when they center around other individuals, including former presidents.

Donald Trump. [[imagecaption|| Credit: PA Images]]

Leahy, a Vermont Democrat, only recently reclaimed the title, reserved for the longest-serving senator in the majority party, the Guardian reports, after the Democrats reclaimed control of the Senate earlier this year.

Leahy voted to convict Trump on the following two counts: abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.

In a statement on Monday, Raskin said the managers were prepared to "present overwhelming evidence of the facts" that the speech Trump gave outside the White House on January 6 prompted the violence which took place later that day.

Leahy vowed in a statement on Monday that he would "not waver from my constitutional and sworn obligations to administer the trial with fairness, in accordance with the constitution and the laws".

House delivers articles of impeachment against Donald Trump to senate