Democratic prosecutors wrap up case against Trump
WASHINGTON, Jan 25 ( AFP) - Democratic prosecutors on Friday wrapped up three days of arguments for seeking Donald Trump's removal from office, as the US president's lawyers prepared to take their turn presenting his defence in the Senate's historic impeachment trial.
For a final eight- hour stretch, the 100 senators listened as Democrats argued that Trump abused the power of the presidency in pressuring Ukraine to launch investigations that would help him politically and then sought to block efforts by Congress to investigate.
Democrats said they had met the burden of proof as they warned Republicans that Trump would remain a grave danger to the nation if left in office.
“This is Trump first, not America first, not American ideals first,” Democratic congressman Adam Schiff, the lead House impeachment manager, told the chamber.
“I ask you, I implore you,” he added, addre s s i n g Republicans who hold the power to allow witnesses to testify next week, against Trump's wishes.
“Give America a fair trial,”
Schiff said. “She's worth it.” Trump's team of lawyers take the floor to offer his defence beginning at 10: 00 am ( 1500 GMT) Saturday, a timeslot which Trump, a former reality TV star, referred to in a tweet as “Death Valley in T. V.” His side's arguments will continue Monday and Tuesday, before the chamber turns to questioning and then votes on whether to hear from witnesses, something Democrats have sought from the start.
“It's going to be much more concise, it's going to be easier to understand, and not swamped with the same information over and over again,” Republican Senator Mike Braun told Fox News of Trump's upcoming defence.
Democrats argued on the floor that Trump's refusal to allow top officials to testify and to supply subpoenaed documents to the Ukraine investigation supported the second charge against him, obstruction of Congress.
Trump blocked the executive branch from responding to 71 specific requests for documents, including five subpoenas, related to his pressure on Kiev to help his 2020 reelection ef fort, Democrat i c impeachment manager Val Deming told senators.
Trump also prevented 12 current and former administration officials, most of them subpoenaed, from testifying to the investigation, she said.
“President Trump's obstruction of the impeachment inquiry was categorical, indiscriminate and historically unprecedented,” Demings said.
She said Congress could not afford to allow Trump to reject its powers in such a wholesale manner.
“Executive power without any sort of restraint, without oversight, and without any checks and balances, is absolute power,” she told the Senate hearing.
“And we know what has been said about absolute power. Absolute power corrupts, absolutely.”