Giuliani says he won’t be on Trump impeachment defense team

Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, one of the president's staunchest supporters, began the House debate for Republicans by opposing impeaching Trump and railing against Democrats for what he called their attempt to "cancel the president."

"We should be focused on bringing the nation together. Instead Democrats are going to impeach the president for a second time, one week, one week before he leaves office. Why? Why? Politics and the fact that they want to cancel the president," he said.

"Impeachment round two. It's always been about getting the president, no matter what. It's an obsession. An obsession that's now broadened. It's not just about impeachment anymore. It's about canceling," he added.

Rep. Tom McClintock, R-Calif., told the chamber, "I cannot think of a more petty, vindictive and gratuitous act than to impeach an already defeated president a week before he is to leave office."

"President-elect Biden's promise to heal the nation becomes a hollow mockery in the harsh reality of this unconstitutional act," he said.

Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris have deflected when asked questions about impeachment, saying the decision is with Congress.

After the House Reading Clerk concluded reading the full impeachment resolution against President Trump, the House has proceeded with the session by kicking off two hours of debate on the article on impeachment charging Trump with inciting an insurrection. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was the first to deliver remarks and called Trump “a clear and present danger” to the country.

"The president of the United States incited this insurrection, this armed rebellion, against our common country. He must go. He is a clear and present danger to the nation that we all love," Pelosi said. "Since the presidential election in November, an election the president lost, he has repeatedly lied about the outcome, sowed self-serving doubt about democracy and unconstitutionally sought to influence state officials to repeal reality."

"My fellow members, my fellow Americans, we cannot escape history. Let us embrace our duty, fulfill our oath, and honor the trust of our nation. And we pray that God will continue to bless America," she added, calling on the House to vote to impeach Trump and for the Senate to vote to convict him.

A spokesperson for Pelosi confirmed to ABC News she is wearing same outfit Wednesday that she wore for Trump's last impeachment vote on Dec. 18, 2019.

-ABC News' Benjamin Siegel

House Reading Clerk Susan Cole, donning an American flag mask, recited the article of impeachment before two horus of debate on the resolution kicked off.

Democrats formally introduced an impeachment resolution Monday, charging Trump with "incitement of insurrection" after he told his supporters at a “Save America Rally” to march on the Capitol during Congress’ joint session to count Electoral College votes on Jan. 6.

"In all this, President Trump gravely endangered the security of the United States and its institutions of Government. He threatened the integrity of the democratic system, interfered with the peaceful transition of power, and imperiled a coequal branch of Government. He thereby betrayed his trust as President, to the manifest injury of the people of the United States," Cole read aloud from the measure.

The impeachment article also cited Trump's call with the Georgia Republican secretary of state where he urged him to "find" enough votes for Trump to win the state -- along with the Constitution's 14th Amendment, noting that it "prohibits any person who has 'engaged in insurrection or rebellion against' the United States" from holding office.

As procedural votes were underway in the House, Speaker Nancy Pelosi went outside the Capitol to thank the National Guard troops deployed to the complex in the wake of last week's riot and ahead of Biden's inauguration in one week.

Some National Guard members inside the Capitol were spotted taking in the sights of the Rotunda Wednesday morning, gathering around and listening to Rep. Brian Mast, R-Fla., an Army veteran who lost both legs in Afghanistan. 

The Capitol has been closed to tours for months due to the coronavirus pandemic. With the exception of last Wednesday's attack, this is one of the few times visitors have snapped photos inside the building during the pandemic -- finding themselves with unique access as they've been designated to protect the building and lawmakers.

As lawmakers arrived on the Hill ahead of the House gaveling in to consider Trump's second impeachment, a heavy National Guard presence greeted them both outside and inside the building -- with some resting, embracing their rifles, on the floor of the Capitol.

Jane Campbell, the president and CEO of the United States Capitol Historical Society, confirmed to ABC News that troops have not been quartered in the Capitol since the Civil War -- when the Rotunda was still under construction, and the open-air space was used as a field hospital.

A Defense official said the National Guard members seen sleeping at the Capitol are on breaks and noted that it’s not uncommon on domestic or overseas deployments to see members taking breaks in between long shifts. 

There are currently 6,600 members of the National Guard in Washington, D.C. with more continuing to flow in. A Defense official said Wednesday afternoon that the National Guard has now been authorized to have up to 20,000 Guardsmen in Washington for inauguration security and that most may be in town by this weekend.

-ABC News Luis Martinez and Benjamin Siegel