Impeachment hearings under way as Republicans drops fast-track demands

THE US Senate has plunged into Donald Trump’s impeachment trial with Republicans abruptly abandoning plans to cram opening arguments into two days but rejecting Democratic demands for more witnesses to expose the president’s “trifecta” of offences.

A marathon session of nearly 13 hours started on Tuesday with a setback for Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell and the president’s legal team, exposing a crack in the party ranks and growing political unease over the historic impeachment proceedings unfolding in an election year.

But it ended in the early hours of yesterday with Republicans easily approving the new trial rules largely on their terms.

“It’s about time we bring this power trip in for a landing,” said White House counsel Pat Cipollone, the president’s lead lawyer, lashing out at the House Democrats prosecuting the case.

“It’s a farce,” he said, “and it should end.”

As the day stretched deep into the night, lawyerly arguments gave way to more pointedly political ones. Tempers flared and senators paced the chamber as Democrats pursued a vote on hearing new evidence.

After one particularly bitter exchange, Judge Roberts intervened, taking the rare step of admonishing both the Democratic House managers and the White House counsel to “remember where they are”.

Over and over, Republicans turned back Democratic amendments to subpoena documents from the White House, State Department, Defence Department and budget office.

By the same 53-47 party-line, they turned away key witnesses including acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney and John Bolton, the former national security adviser critical of the Ukraine policy.

Earlier, Mr McConnell had stunned senators with his decision to back off some of his proposed rules. Republicans were said to be concerned over the political optics of “dark of night” sessions.