Trump trial kicks off amid furious claims of ‘cover-up’

Democrats left outraged as Republicans outline rules governing US president’s impeachment proceedings

REPUBLICAN leaders were accused of a “cover-up” yesterday after outlining rules for Donald Trump’s impeachment trial that could see proceedings run late into the evening and end next week.

Democrats were left furious by proposals for them to be given just 24 hours to outline their case for removing the US president and for a decision on new witnesses to be delayed.

Republican leaders in the Senate can set the rules providing there are no rebels because they hold 53 of the its 100 seats. It meant a fierce row broke out as the trial began in earnest yesterday, in marked contrast to the impeachment trial of Bill Clinton, the former president, two decades ago when rules were agreed by 100 votes to zero.

Chuck Schumer, the Democratic leader in the Senate, said the Republican rules were a “national disgrace”.

“A trial without evidence is a coverup,” Mr Schumer said, calling the rules “designed by President Trump, for President Trump” and pledging to table amendments to change them. “My colleagues, the eyes of the nation, the eyes of history, the eyes of the founding fathers are upon us,” Mr Schumer said. “History will be our final judge. Will senators rise to the occasion?”

But Mitch Mcconnell, the Republican leader in the Senate, claimed his rules were similar to those used in the trial of Mr Clinton, a Democrat.

The row set the tone for what is expected to be a bitter and partisan affair, with the two parties fiercely split about the merits of removing the president over the Ukraine scandal. Mr Trump was 4,000 miles away from Washington,

attending a gathering of world leaders in Davos, Switzerland.

For weeks a row has been brewing about rules for the trial. It came to a head after the Republicans published their proposals on Monday. They suggested giving the Democrats 24 hours to make their case, followed by 24 hours for Mr Trump’s legal team and then 16 hours of questions from senators.

The original draft suggested the 24 hours be split over two days, raising the prospect of proceedings lasting until 3am. That was changed to three days, but it could still mean them lasting late into the evening, when many Americans may have tuned out of coverage.

The second big row was over new witnesses and evidence. The Republicans proposed delaying a decision on witnesses until after opening statements, possibly decreasing the chance of a yes vote as senators could dismiss the case after hearing the arguments.

Senators voted along party lines by 53 votes to 47 to reject a Democrat amendment demanding the White House be subpoenaed for relevant documents about Ukraine.