White House broke law on aid, watchdog says, as trial begins

WASHINGTON — The Senate impeachment trial on whether to remove U.S. President Donald Trump from office began on Thursday even as a congressional watchdog found that the White House broke the law by withholding security aid for Ukraine approved by Congress.

The assessment from the nonpartisan Government Accountability Office (GAO) was a setback for Trump, but it was unclear if it would figure in his trial in the Republican-led Senate given that key questions such as whether witnesses will testify or new evidence will be considered remain unanswered.

Democrat Adam Schiff, who heads a team of seven House members who will serve as prosecutors, appeared on the Senate floor to read the two charges passed by the House on Dec. 18 that accused Trump of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress arising from his dealings with Ukraine.

Chief Justice John Roberts took an oath to preside over the trial and then swore in the assembled senators who will serve as jurors.

The Senate is expected to acquit Trump, as none of its 53 Republicans has voiced support for removing him, a step that requires a two-thirds majority. Opening statements were due to start on Tuesday.

The abuse of power cited in the House articles of impeachment included Trump’s withholding of US$391 million in security aid for Ukraine, a move Democrats have said was aimed at pressuring Kyiv into investigating political rival Joe Biden

“Faithful execution of the law does not permit the President to substitute his own policy priorities for those that Congress has enacted into law,” the GAO said Thursday.

The GAO’s findings are not legally binding, but its reports are seen by lawmakers as objective, reliable and generally uncontested. It has no prosecutorial power.