Restrictions eased as historic trial begins
The US Senate plunged into President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial yesterday, with Republicans abruptly abandoning plans to cram opening arguments into two late-night sessions, and Democrats arguing for more witnesses to expose Trump’s ‘‘trifecta’’ of offences.
The turn of events was a setback for Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell and the president’s legal team, exposing a crack in the party’s ranks and the growing political unease over the historic impeachment proceedings unfolding in an election year.
Chief Justice John Roberts opened the session, with House prosecutors on one side and Trump’s team on the other in the well of the Senate, as senators sat silently at their desks, under oath to do ‘‘impartial justice’’. No cellphones or other electronics were allowed.
Opening day stretched deep into the night as Democrats pursued what may be their only chance to force senators to vote on hearing new testimony.
However, Republicans turned back Democratic amendments to subpoena documents from the White House, the State Department and the budget office, with more votes expected rejecting key witnesses who had a front-row seat to Trump’s actions.
By the same 53-47 party-line vote, senators turned aside the Democrats’ request to subpoena acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney.
McConnell stunned senators and delayed the start of proceedings with his decision to back off from some of his proposed rules. Republicans were said to be concerned over the political optics of ‘‘dark of night’’ sessions.
Instead, 24 hours of opening arguments for each side will be spread over three days, swelling Democrats’ momentum as they push to break the standoff over calling new witnesses.
The day quickly took on the cadence of a trial proceeding over whether the president’s actions towards Ukraine warranted removal from office.
White House Counsel Pat Cipollone, the president’s lead lawyer, said the House of Representatives charges against Trump were ‘‘ridiculous’’, insisting that the president ‘‘has done absolutely nothing wrong’’.
The White House legal team did not dispute Trump’s actions, when he called Ukraine and asked for a ‘‘favour,’’ which was to investigate Democrat Joe Biden as the US was withholding military aid. But the lawyers insisted that the president did nothing wrong. ‘‘Absolutely no case,’’ Cipollone said.
Adam Schiff, chairman of the House
Intelligence Committee, opened for the prosecution by saying America’s founders added the remedy of impeachment to the US Constitution with ‘‘precisely this type of conduct in mind – conduct that abuses the power of office for a personal benefit, that undermines our national security, and that invites foreign interference in the democratic process of an election’’.
‘‘It is the trifecta of constitutional misconduct justifying impeachment.’’
McConnell made his adjustment after encountering resistance from Republicans during a closed-door lunch meeting.
A whistleblower’s complaint led the House to impeach Trump last month on charges of abuse of power and obstructing Congress. The White House instructed officials not to testify in the House inquiry, and refused to turn over witnesses or documents.