Support grows for impeachment

Support for Donald Trump’s impeachment has increased over the past month, opinion polls show, as Democrats accused Republican senators of violating their oath of office by pledging to work for the president’s acquittal.

The Democrat-controlled House of Representatives is expected to vote to send Trump for trial in the Senate this week, accusing the president of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.

Although the Republicans claim the impeachment process is hopelessly partisan, some of the most damaging testimonies against Trump have come from his own staff, The New York Times claimed.

Americans remain deeply divided over whether Trump should be removed from office. However, two polls released yesterday show impeachment is gathering support, albeit slowly.

A Fox News poll, conducted last week, showed that impeachment and removal from office was backed by 50 per cent of voters.

Meanwhile, a CBS poll showed 42 per cent of voters in favour of removal and 42 per cent opposed. However, a separate survey found 46 per cent of voters who took part in last month’s poll favoured impeachment, compared with 43 per cent in November.

The polls were taken as battle lines were being drawn up for the Senate trial, which is expected to begin early next month. Senior Republicans have already signalled that their minds are made up, despite a constitutional obligation to act as impartial jurors.

In an interview on Face the Nation yesterday, Lindsey Graham from South Carolina, a close ally of Donald Trump, made little pretence of neutrality, saying his mind was already made up.

‘‘ I’m not trying to hide the fact that I have disdain for the accusations in the process. So I don’t need any witnesses,’’ he said.

Last week Mitch McConnell, the leader of the Republican majority in the Senate said he was ‘‘co-ordinating with White House counsel’’.

Their stance drew angry condemnation from senior Democrats including Chuck Schumer, the party leader in the Senate: ‘‘If articles of impeachment are sent to the Senate, every single senator will take an oath to render ‘impartial justice’. Making sure the Senate conducts a fair and honest trial that allows all the facts to come out is paramount.’’ – Telegraph Group