Republican lawmaker compares Trump impeachment to 'trial of Jesus before crucifixion'

US President Donald Trump, who is undergoing impeachment proceedings led by Democrats, has been treated worse than Jesus before his crucifixion, a Republican lawmaker has said.

"I want you to keep this in mind: When Jesus was falsely accused of treason, Pontius Pilate gave Jesus the opportunity to face his accusers," Congressman Barry Loudermilk, who hails from the deeply conservative Bible Belt state of Georgia, told fellow lawmakers on Wednesday.

"During that sham trial, Pontius Pilate afforded more rights to Jesus than the Democrats afforded this president and this process," Loudermilk said, referring to the Roman governor of Judea who approved the death sentence.

Jerry Nadler, chairman of the Judiciary Committee, shot back that the president had been "given the opportunity to come and testify before the Judiciary Committee... He declined to do so".

The comments by Loudermilk caused a stir online, with "Trump to Jesus" soon trending on Twitter.

Other senior Republican figures had also referenced Jesus' crucifixion during the proceedings.

From the House floor, Republican congressman Fred Keller of Pennsylvania quoted Jesus' words from the cross - "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do" - in referencing those voting against the president.

James Martin, a Jesuit priest and US author posted on Twitter that he believed there were some differences in Trump and Jesus' treatment: "Pilate had Jesus beaten and whipped, thrown into jail overnight, marched through the streets carrying his cross, and then nailed to that cross until he died."

"Comparing the treatment received by the President to what Jesus suffered is absurd. Also, only one of them is sinless," he said.

Charlotte Clymer, press secretary for US LGBT civil rights organisation Human Rights Campaign, said that the president "might be confused because of Trump's tendency to turn anything into whine".

According to the Bible, Jesus' first miracle was turning water into wine at a wedding.

The bitterly divided House of Representatives voted late Wednesday to impeach Trump for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.

The matter now heads to trial in the Senate, where Trump's Republicans hold a 53-47 seat edge, and are expected to exonerate him.