Dems on the attack in impeachment
Republicans circle wagons around Trump at hearing
WASHINGTON — U.S. Democrats on Monday sought to bolster the case for impeaching President Donald Trump, describing his pressuring of Ukraine to investigate a political rival as a “clear and present danger” to free and fair elections and national security.
In a raucous hearing that could lay the groundwork for a vote later this week on formal impeachment charges in the House of Representatives Judiciary Committee, the top Democrat on the panel said there was extensive proof of Trump’s wrongdoing.
“The evidence shows that
Donald J. Trump, the president of the United States, has put himself before his country. He has violated his most basic responsibilities to the people. He has broken his oath,” Representative Jerrold Nadler said in an opening statement.
Republicans fired back, peppering the hearing with objections, points of order and other parliamentary manoeuvres, forcing Nadler to gavel them into silence. The proceedings were briefly disrupted by a man who shouted that Democrats were committing treason before he was led away by police. “Presumption has now become the standard instead of truth,” said Representative Doug Collins, the ranking Republican on the panel. “They’re desperate to have an impeachment vote on this president.” The hearing on Monday was a key step before determining charges, known as articles of impeachment, that the full Democratic-controlled
House is likely to vote on before Christmas.
If Trump is impeached, a trial would be held in the Republican-controlled Senate, where a two-thirds majority of those present would be needed to vote to remove the president from office. A conviction is considered unlikely.
The heart of the impeachment battle, which has divided Americans, is whether Trump abused his power by pressuring Ukraine to investigate former vice-president Joe Biden, and then obstructed Congress’ investigation.
Trump denies wrongdoing and has called the probe a hoax.