Trump Impeachment Trial Underway

MCCONNELL GAVE THE HOUSE TIL SATURDAY AND THE WHITE HOUSE COUNSEL TIL MONDAY TO DELIVER TRIAL BRIEFS

United States Chief Justice John Roberts was sworn in on Thursday afternoon on the Senate floor for the longawaited impeachment trial of U.S. President Donald Trump, the third president in U.S. history to face such a trial in the upper chamber.

The trial is set to begin next Tuesday with Roberts presiding.

After taking his oath, Roberts swore in 99 of the 100 senators who will serve as impeachment jurors with the oath to deliver “impartial justice.”

Senator James Inhofe, a Republican from the western state of Oklahoma, was absent Thursday reportedly for a family medical issue. “Will all senators now stand, and remain standing, and raise their right hand,” Mr Roberts said.

“Do you solemnly swear that in all things appertaining to the trial of the impeachment of Donald John Trump, president of the United States, now pending, you will do impartial justice according to the Constitution and laws?”

Together the senators responded “I do” at their desks and then were called up to sign the impeachment trial oath book in groups of four. After the swearing-in ceremony, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell gave the House until Saturday and the White House counsel until Monday to deliver trial briefs outlining their arguments, allowing a House deadline for rebuttal the following day.

Trial rules approved by the Senate on Wednesday prohibit senators talking or using cellphones during the trial proceedings.

Do you solemnly swear that in all things appertaining to the trial of the impeachment of Donald John Trump, president of the United States, now pending, you will do impartial justice ... ?