Trump likely to be acquitted as Senate opens trial
Donald Trump’s second Senate impeachment began on Tuesday, rich in political and constitutional significance but almost certain to end in acquittal, with most Republicans in opposition.
US chief justice John Roberts, who oversaw the former president’s first trial, is not doing the same for the second trial.
Democratic senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont is president pro tempore of the Senate, and will preside over the Senate sessions. The constitution requires the Supreme Court chief to preside in presidential impeachments.
When Leahy, 80, the longestserving member of the Senate, disclosed last month he would fill that role in Trump’s trial, he noted the president pro tempore had historically presided over Senate impeachment trials of non-presidents.
Trump left the White House last month after his November 3 election defeat to Joe Biden. He was impeached by the House on January 13, a week after his supporters had stormed the US Capitol, angered by his defeat in the election.
Georgia investigates call
Georgia’s secretary of state’s office opened a probe on Monday into Trump’s efforts to overturn the state’s 2020 election results, a step that could lead to a criminal investigation by state and local authorities.
Secretary of state Brad Raffensperger had faced calls to open a probe after Trump was recorded in a January 2 phone call pressuring Raffensperger to overturn the state’s election results based on unfounded voter fraud claims.
“The secretary of state’s office investigates complaints it receives,” said a spokesman for Raffensperger’s office, describing the investigation as “fact finding and administrative.”
MUMBAI: The tussle between two of world’s richest men—Jeff Bezos and Mukesh Ambani—to dominate India’s estimated $1 trillion retail market is testing foreign investor patience with flip-flopping court rulings.
This week saw new developments in Amazon.com Inc.’s legal battle to block Ambani’s Reliance Industries Ltd from acquiring Future Retail Ltd’s assets, in what would be the country’s largest retail-sector deal. Last week, a single judge at a high court in Delhi restrained Future Group firms from selling their assets. On Monday, a set of judges at the court overruled that decision. Amazon can appeal the latest ruling in the country’s Supreme Court.
The case may set an important legal precedent for investors on whether emergency decisions by foreign arbitrators are valid in India. Amazon had petitioned Indian courts with an order from an emergency arbitration court in Singapore that barred Future from making a deal with RIL.
It could also help overseas investors judge the validity of agreements in India, which the World Bank has ranked among the bottom 15% of countries in terms of enforcing contracts, worse than Venezuela, Syria and Senegal.
“Not giving effect to a foreign arbitration award undermines India’s already floundering reputation as a good place to invest and do business in,” said Bharat Chugh, a former civil judge in Delhi and now a lawyer practicing in India’s top court. Speedy enforcement of contracts and foreign arbitration rulings are important for overseas investors when assessing the attractiveness of an investment destination, he said.
Spokespeople at RIL, Amazon’s local unit and Future Group weren’t able to comment immediately on the latest ruling. Future Retail’s lawyers have argued in court that the deal is their only chance to avoid bankruptcy
and save jobs.
The rulings in Amazon’s case come after two big foreign arbitration awards against India. In September, an international tribunal said India acted unfairly in a $3 billion tax dispute with Vodafone Group Plc and in another ruling ordered India to return $1.2 billion to Cairn Energy Plc for a similar failure. India has challenged the Vodafone ruling in Singapore.
It’s common for firms investing in India to opt for foreign arbitrations as the judicial process can take years. After an overseas arbitrator makes a decision, companies can seek its enforcement via an Indian court if the opposing side doesn’t comply.