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DPA & AFP
Washington
Democratic leaders are slamming Republicans for a ‘rigged’ impeachment trial of President Donald Trump, in a partisan dispute that shows no signs of abetting as the trial gets under way on Tuesday.
The first full day of the historic trial saw the Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell submit a resolution on procedures that does not admit evidence from the investigation of the president.
“This is not a process for a fair trial. This is the process for a rigged trial. This is the process if you do not want the American people to see the evidence,” the lead House impeachment manager, Democratic congressman Adam Schiff, said.
“Leader McConnell’s process is deliberately designed to hide the truth from the Senate and from the American people, because he knows that the President’s wrongdoing is indefensible and demands removal,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said in a statement.
“The Senate GOP Leader has chosen a cover-up for the President, rather than honour his oath to the Constitution,” she said.
Democrats are decrying a proposal by McConnell to give each side 24 hours to make their case over the span of two days, setting up the possibility of presentations that go well into the night.
Democrats also want a commitment to call witnesses to the Senate trial that were not heard during the House impeachment investigation.
“On something as important as impeachment, McConnell’s resolution is nothing short of a national disgrace and it will go down in history as one of the very dark days of the Senate,” Chuck Schumer, the leader of the Democrats in the Senate said.
Speaking from the Senate floor, McConnell called the trial rules “fair” and in line with the conduct of President Bill Clinton’s impeachment trial.
McConnell said the issue of witnesses will only be considered at a later time if the Democrats’ case “has overcome the high bar of presumption of innocence.” The 100 members of the upper chamber will gather for what is likely to be the first full day of proceedings in the case at 1 pm (1800 GMT).
The president is accused firstly of having abused the power of his office to pressure Ukraine into announcing an investigation of his domestic political rival, Joe Biden, in order to potentially help Trump’s re-election campaign.
The second article of impeachment says he obstructed Congress’ investigation of the Ukraine affair. Both articles were approved last month by the House of Representatives.
Trump denies wrongdoings. His legal team said on Monday that the president is the victim of a “rigged process” motivated by politics and that he has done nothing wrong.
The brief argues that the case is “flimsy” and that the two articles of impeachment “allege no crime or violation of law whatsoever.”
It is only the third time a president has endured an impeachment trial, after Clinton and Andrew Johnson in 1868.
Washington
Democratic leaders are slamming Republicans for a ‘rigged’ impeachment trial of President Donald Trump, in a partisan dispute that shows no signs of abetting as the trial gets under way on Tuesday.
The first full day of the historic trial saw the Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell submit a resolution on procedures that does not admit evidence from the investigation of the president.
“This is not a process for a fair trial. This is the process for a rigged trial. This is the process if you do not want the American people to see the evidence,” the lead House impeachment manager, Democratic congressman Adam Schiff, said.
“Leader McConnell’s process is deliberately designed to hide the truth from the Senate and from the American people, because he knows that the President’s wrongdoing is indefensible and demands removal,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said in a statement.
“The Senate GOP Leader has chosen a cover-up for the President, rather than honour his oath to the Constitution,” she said.
Democrats are decrying a proposal by McConnell to give each side 24 hours to make their case over the span of two days, setting up the possibility of presentations that go well into the night.
Democrats also want a commitment to call witnesses to the Senate trial that were not heard during the House impeachment investigation.
“On something as important as impeachment, McConnell’s resolution is nothing short of a national disgrace and it will go down in history as one of the very dark days of the Senate,” Chuck Schumer, the leader of the Democrats in the Senate said.
Speaking from the Senate floor, McConnell called the trial rules “fair” and in line with the conduct of President Bill Clinton’s impeachment trial.
McConnell said the issue of witnesses will only be considered at a later time if the Democrats’ case “has overcome the high bar of presumption of innocence.” The 100 members of the upper chamber will gather for what is likely to be the first full day of proceedings in the case at 1 pm (1800 GMT).
The president is accused firstly of having abused the power of his office to pressure Ukraine into announcing an investigation of his domestic political rival, Joe Biden, in order to potentially help Trump’s re-election campaign.
The second article of impeachment says he obstructed Congress’ investigation of the Ukraine affair. Both articles were approved last month by the House of Representatives.
Trump denies wrongdoings. His legal team said on Monday that the president is the victim of a “rigged process” motivated by politics and that he has done nothing wrong.
The brief argues that the case is “flimsy” and that the two articles of impeachment “allege no crime or violation of law whatsoever.”
It is only the third time a president has endured an impeachment trial, after Clinton and Andrew Johnson in 1868.
