The Senate on Wednesday began the process of putting U.S. District Judge Samuel B. Kent on trial for four articles of impeachment.

All but a few senators were seated at their desks in the chamber for the presentation of the articles that the House overwhelmingly adopted on June 19.

The accusations include Kent’s inappropriate conduct with his case manager, Cathy McBroom, and his secretary, Donna Wilkerson. They also include Kent’s false statements to federal investigators and his guilty plea for obstruction of justice.

Four of the five designated House managers — Adam B. Schiff , D-Calif., Zoe Lofgren , D-Calif., Robert W. Goodlatte , R-Va., and F. James Sensenbrenner Jr. , R-Wis. — entered the Senate chamber after a live quorum call on Wednesday morning. Schiff read the articles aloud.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell , R-Ky., subsequently administered an oath to acting Senate president pro tempore Daniel K. Inouye , D-Hawaii, who then administered an oath to the senators present, as required under the Constitution to begin an impeachment trial.

The Senate then adopted two resolutions by voice vote, with no dissent. The first resolution effected a summons to Kent and provided for the filing of an answer by Kent to the impeachment articles and a reply by the House. The second resolution allowed for the appointment of a bipartisan impeachment committee of six Democrats and six Republicans to gather evidence, a process that is expected to take several weeks. Missouri Democrat Claire McCaskill was designated as chairman, and Florida Republican Mel Martinez was designated as vice chairman.