A draft report by the US House Intelligence Committee has accused Donald Trump of using his presidential powers "to solicit foreign interference on his behalf in the 2020 election".
It comes following weeks of private and public hearings in the impeachment inquiry, looking into the Trump administration's dealings with Ukraine - as well as the involvement of the president's personal attorney Rudy Giuliani.
The inquiry - which the US president has denounced as a "Democrat hoax" - is investigating whether officials working for Mr Trump offered the Ukrainian president a White House visit in return for announcing an investigation into the son of Democratic presidential contender Joe Biden.
Lawmakers are also looking into whether holding military aid to Ukraine was tied to political investigations.
Recent weeks have seen high-profile figures testifying publicly - including the US ambassador to the EU confirming that officials pushed for a “quid pro quo” arrangement with Ukraine on behalf of President Trump.
In their draft report, the House committee claims Mr Trump "placed his personal political interests above the national interests of the United States, sought to undermine the integrity of the US presidential election process, and endangered US national security".
It accuses the US president of withholding military assistance "without any legitimate foreign policy, national security, or anti-corruption justification".
The report also claims Mr Trump used his official powers to "apply increasing pressure" on Ukrainian authorities, and engaging in an "unprecedented campaign of obstruction" of the impeachment inquiry itself.
It further suggests the alleged Ukraine scheme was carried out with the "knowledge and approval" of senior administration officials such as Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
"Violated his oath of office"
In a statement, committee chairs Adam Schiff, Carolyn Maloney and Eliot Engel said: “The President’s actions have damaged our national security, undermined the integrity of the next election, and violated his oath of office.
"They have also challenged the very core of our Constitutional system of checks and balances, separation of powers, and rule of law.
“It will be up to the Congress to determine whether these acts rise to the level of an impeachable offense, whether the President shall be held to account, and whether we as a nation are committed to the rule of law—or, instead, whether a president who uses the power of his office to coerce foreign interference in a U.S. election is something that Americans must simply ‘get over'".
In the wake of the new report, the US House Judiciary Committee is this week due to begin public hearings as part of the impeachment inquiry.
Democrats in Congress will then decide whether to draw up articles of impeachment.
If the House of Representatives ultimately votes to impeach Mr Trump, he would then face a trial in the Republican-controlled Senate on whether he should be removed from office.
