The impeachment trial of former US President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/donald-trump">Donald Trump </a>on Wednesday was focussed around chilling footage of lawmakers running for their lives as rioters rampaged through the halls of the Congress.&nbsp;

Hours of video footage from security cameras, police bodycams was shown of the day when the Congress was to certify <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/joe-biden">Joe Biden's </a>election victory.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;

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The mob was seen violently searching for then-Vice President Mike Pence and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.&nbsp;

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/twitter-trump-ban-permanent-no-matter-if-he-runs-for-president-again-362782">Twitter: Trump ban permanent, no matter if he runs for president again</a>

Pence, who was in the Capitol to preside over the certification of Biden's win, was also seen in the video being hurried down to safety by the security personnel, along with his family.&nbsp;

Chants of "hang Mike Pence" can also be heard in the footage.&nbsp;

Top Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer is also seen narrowly avoiding the pro-Trump mob.&nbsp;

Republican Senator Mitt Romney, who has often opposed Trump, is being taken by an officer to safety moments before an angry group of rioters entered.&nbsp;

In another segment, rioters were seen vandalising the office of Pelosi and shouting, "Nancy, where are you Nancy?".&nbsp;

"We know from the rioters themselves that if they had found Speaker Pelosi, they would have killed her," impeachment manager Stacey Plaskett, a House delegate from the US Virgin Islands said.&nbsp;

"The vice president, the speaker of the house -- the first and second in line to the presidency -- were... put in danger because president Trump put his own desires, his own need for power, over his duty to the constitution and our democratic process," he added.&nbsp;

Lead impeachment manager Jamie Raskin said Trump "surrendered" his role as the commander-in-chief and became the "inciter-in-chief of a dangerous insurrection".

 
&nbsp;

The impeachment trial of former US President Donald Trump on Wednesday was focussed around chilling footage of lawmakers running for their lives as rioters rampaged through the halls of the Congress.

The impeachment trial of former US President Donald Trump on Wednesday was focussed around chilling footage of lawmakers running for their lives as rioters rampaged through the halls of the Congress. Hours of video footage from security cameras, police bodycams was shown of the day when the Congress was to certify Joe Biden's election victory. Watch | The mob was seen violently searching for then-Vice President Mike Pence and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Also read | Twitter: Trump ban permanent, no matter if he runs for president again Pence, who was in the Capitol to preside over the certification of Biden's win, was also seen in the video being hurried down to safety by the security personnel, along with his family. Chants of "hang Mike Pence" can also be heard in the footage. Top Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer is also seen narrowly avoiding the pro-Trump mob. Republican Senator Mitt Romney, who has often opposed Trump, is being taken by an officer to safety moments before an angry group of rioters entered. In another segment, rioters were seen vandalising the office of Pelosi and shouting, "Nancy, where are you Nancy?". "We know from the rioters themselves that if they had found Speaker Pelosi, they would have killed her," impeachment manager Stacey Plaskett, a House delegate from the US Virgin Islands said. "The vice president, the speaker of the house -- the first and second in line to the presidency -- were... put in danger because president Trump put his own desires, his own need for power, over his duty to the constitution and our democratic process," he added. Lead impeachment manager Jamie Raskin said Trump "surrendered" his role as the commander-in-chief and became the "inciter-in-chief of a dangerous insurrection".

Trump impeachment trial: Disturbing footage of Capitol Hill violence shown

The second impeachment trial of former President Donald <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/fast-pace-expected-for-trumps-second-impeachment-trial-362489">Trump </a>began on Tuesday with the US Senate declaring it constitutional with a 56-44 vote.

Watch:

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"On this vote, the yeas are 56, the nays are 44 and pursuant to res. 47, the Senate having voted in the affirmative on the foregoing question, the Senate should proceed with the trial as provided under the provisions of that resolution," Patrick Leahy, presiding Senator, announced.

The first test was about the constitutionality of the trial. It was Trump's lawyers versus Democrat impeachment managers. The vote came after hours of arguments.

Trump's lawyers said the trial was not constitutional because he is out of office, while the Democrats pointed to precedent and the opinions of many legal scholars, including conservatives, who said the trial is valid.

"The section I read [referring to US constitution] 'judgment' - in other words, the bad thing that can happen, the judgment - 'in cases of impeachment' - i.e., what we are doing - 'shall not extend further than removal from office.' What is so hard about that? Which of those words are unclear? 'shall not extend further than removal from office'. President Trump is no longer is in office. The object of the constitution has been achieved. He was removed by the voters," Bruce Castor, Trump's defense attorney said.&nbsp;

Attorney Bruce Castor added that the real reason behind House of Representatives wanting to convict Donald Trump was because they do not wish to see him as a political rival in the future.

Castor added that the storming of the Capitol "should be denounced in the most vigorous terms" and the rioters should be prosecuted. The defense contention reflected that "a small group of criminals" - not Trump - were responsible for the violence.

The impeachment managers managed to pick up one vote from Republicans &nbsp;Bill Cassidy, Louisiana Senator who blamed Trump's lawyer for bad performance.

Two weeks ago he had voted in favour of an effort to dismiss the trial, but on Tuesday he voted with Democrats to move forward, which came across as an unprecedented move.

Cassidy joined Republican Senator Susan Collins of Maine and others for dismissing the Trump team's claims.

"I said, I'd be an impartial juror. Anyone listening to those arguments, the house managers were focused, they were organized, they relied upon both precedent, the constitution and legal scholars. They made a compelling argument. President Trump's team were disorganized, they did everything they could but to talk about the question at hand and when they talked about it, they kind of glided over it, almost as if they were embarrassed by their arguments," Senator Bill Cassidy said.

A graphic video showing the former president egging a rally crowd to march to the capitol and “fight like hell” against his re-election defeat and images of the attack on Congress came soon after - all were showcased as the trial opened on Tuesday.

The trial is expected to be fast with each side having upto 16 hours to make their case and final vote on whether to convict or acquit Donald Trump could take place early next week.

The timeline would make it the fastest impeachment trial for a president in American history.

The second impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump began on Tuesday with the US Senate declaring it constitutional with a 56-44 vote. Watch: "On this vote, the yeas are 56, the nays are 44 and pursuant to res.

The second impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump began on Tuesday with the US Senate declaring it constitutional with a 56-44 vote. Watch: "On this vote, the yeas are 56, the nays are 44 and pursuant to res. 47, the Senate having voted in the affirmative on the foregoing question, the Senate should proceed with the trial as provided under the provisions of that resolution," Patrick Leahy, presiding Senator, announced. The first test was about the constitutionality of the trial. It was Trump's lawyers versus Democrat impeachment managers. The vote came after hours of arguments. Trump's lawyers said the trial was not constitutional because he is out of office, while the Democrats pointed to precedent and the opinions of many legal scholars, including conservatives, who said the trial is valid. "The section I read [referring to US constitution] 'judgment' - in other words, the bad thing that can happen, the judgment - 'in cases of impeachment' - i.e., what we are doing - 'shall not extend further than removal from office.' What is so hard about that? Which of those words are unclear? 'shall not extend further than removal from office'. President Trump is no longer is in office. The object of the constitution has been achieved. He was removed by the voters," Bruce Castor, Trump's defense attorney said. Attorney Bruce Castor added that the real reason behind House of Representatives wanting to convict Donald Trump was because they do not wish to see him as a political rival in the future. Castor added that the storming of the Capitol "should be denounced in the most vigorous terms" and the rioters should be prosecuted. The defense contention reflected that "a small group of criminals" - not Trump - were responsible for the violence. The impeachment managers managed to pick up one vote from Republicans Bill Cassidy, Louisiana Senator who blamed Trump's lawyer for bad performance. Two weeks ago he had voted in favour of an effort to dismiss the trial, but on Tuesday he voted with Democrats to move forward, which came across as an unprecedented move. Cassidy joined Republican Senator Susan Collins of Maine and others for dismissing the Trump team's claims. "I said, I'd be an impartial juror. Anyone listening to those arguments, the house managers were focused, they were organized, they relied upon both precedent, the constitution and legal scholars. They made a compelling argument. President Trump's team were disorganized, they did everything they could but to talk about the question at hand and when they talked about it, they kind of glided over it, almost as if they were embarrassed by their arguments," Senator Bill Cassidy said. A graphic video showing the former president egging a rally crowd to march to the capitol and “fight like hell” against his re-election defeat and images of the attack on Congress came soon after - all were showcased as the trial opened on Tuesday. The trial is expected to be fast with each side having upto 16 hours to make their case and final vote on whether to convict or acquit Donald Trump could take place early next week. The timeline would make it the fastest impeachment trial for a president in American history.

Senate declares Trump's impeachment constitutional, begins proceedings

Former US President Donald Trump refused to testify in his impeachment trial after being called by House prosecutors to give evidence, branding the process "unconstitutional."

Donald Trump refuses to testify in 'unconstitutional' impeachment trial

He may be out of office, But <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/donald-trump">Donald Trump </a>is certainly not out of troubles.

The cloak of protection afforded by the presidency is largely gone.

It has been just two days and his rivals seem to be lining up for a shot.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is insistent on Trump's impeachment trial with the proceedings beginning on December 25 in Senate.&nbsp;

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-impeachment-to-be-sent-to-senate-on-january-25-358667">Trump impeachment to be sent to Senate on January 25</a>

Attorneys in New York are investigating his business dealings and add that they will stop at nothing in pressing charges against private citizen Trump.

The district attorneys in Manhattan are reportedly investigating Trump's hush-money payout to porn star Stormy Daniels.

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/twitter-suspends-account-linked-to-khameneis-website-clarifies-its-fake-and-not-his-358646">Twitter suspends account linked to Khamenei's website, clarifies it's fake and not his</a>

Several commercial banks, including Trump's biggest lender Deutsche Bank have indicated that they no longer want to do business with him.

In Georgia, prosecutors are planning to open a criminal investigation against the former president over his attempts to overturn the results of the presidential election in the state.

<h2>Threat to life</h2>

There seems to be a threat to his life as well from Iran.&nbsp;

Last year, Trump had said that the US has killed the "number one terrorist" in the world after Iran's top general Qasem Soleimani was killed in a drone strike in Iraq.&nbsp;

Iran has not forgotten its revered general's assassination and wants to take revenge against now civilian Trump.&nbsp;

The official Twitter account of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei posted an image which showed a golfer, resembling Trump playing golf and a drone is hovering over him.&nbsp;

The caption said: "revenge is certain".&nbsp;

There has been no comment from Iran, but the threat cannot be downplayed.

This is not the first time that something similar to this has happened and two weeks back, the Chief Justice of Iran Ebrahim had warned, saying: "those who had a role in this assassination and crime will not be safe on earth".&nbsp;

"Do not presume that someone, as the president of America, who appeared as a murderer or ordered a murder, may be immune from justice being carried out," he had said.&nbsp;

Trump has extended secret service protection to his family as well, including his four adult children and two of their spouses.&nbsp;

Right before he left office, the former Republican president issued a directive to extend post-presidency secret service protection to his children.

Under the country's federal law, Trump, his wife Melania and their 14-year-old son Baron are the only people entitled to secret service protection.

But Trump wanted everybody covered, and given the threats from iran, the high-security makes sense.&nbsp;

He may be out of office, But Donald Trump is certainly not out of troubles. The cloak of protection afforded by the presidency is largely gone. It has been just two days and his rivals seem to be lining up for a shot.

He may be out of office, But Donald Trump is certainly not out of troubles. The cloak of protection afforded by the presidency is largely gone. It has been just two days and his rivals seem to be lining up for a shot. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is insistent on Trump's impeachment trial with the proceedings beginning on December 25 in Senate. Also read | Trump impeachment to be sent to Senate on January 25 Attorneys in New York are investigating his business dealings and add that they will stop at nothing in pressing charges against private citizen Trump. The district attorneys in Manhattan are reportedly investigating Trump's hush-money payout to porn star Stormy Daniels. Also read | Twitter suspends account linked to Khamenei's website, clarifies it's fake and not his Several commercial banks, including Trump's biggest lender Deutsche Bank have indicated that they no longer want to do business with him. In Georgia, prosecutors are planning to open a criminal investigation against the former president over his attempts to overturn the results of the presidential election in the state. Threat to life There seems to be a threat to his life as well from Iran. Last year, Trump had said that the US has killed the "number one terrorist" in the world after Iran's top general Qasem Soleimani was killed in a drone strike in Iraq. Iran has not forgotten its revered general's assassination and wants to take revenge against now civilian Trump. The official Twitter account of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei posted an image which showed a golfer, resembling Trump playing golf and a drone is hovering over him. The caption said: "revenge is certain". There has been no comment from Iran, but the threat cannot be downplayed. This is not the first time that something similar to this has happened and two weeks back, the Chief Justice of Iran Ebrahim had warned, saying: "those who had a role in this assassination and crime will not be safe on earth". "Do not presume that someone, as the president of America, who appeared as a murderer or ordered a murder, may be immune from justice being carried out," he had said. Trump has extended secret service protection to his family as well, including his four adult children and two of their spouses. Right before he left office, the former Republican president issued a directive to extend post-presidency secret service protection to his children. Under the country's federal law, Trump, his wife Melania and their 14-year-old son Baron are the only people entitled to secret service protection. But Trump wanted everybody covered, and given the threats from iran, the high-security makes sense.

Donald Trump is out of office, but his troubles keep on piling up

Donald Trump impeachment: These 10 Republicans voted against US president

About ten years ago, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/donald-trump">Donald Trump </a>was one of the strongest human brands ever.

The world looked up to him as he was the man with the Midas touch.

The billionaire businessman was not a career politician, but the people of the United States saw the perfect president in him.&nbsp;

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/along-with-trump-impeachment-biden-urges-us-senate-to-consider-other-urgent-business-356546">Along with Trump impeachment, Biden urges US Senate to consider 'other urgent business'</a>

Trump won the presidency in 2016 but lost reputation, face and brand value.&nbsp;

In 2015, America's retail giant Macy's cut ties with Trump after his comments on migrants and Mexico.&nbsp;

Trump's menswear collection was phased out and NBC also cut its ties with the American president.&nbsp;

It decided to no longer air the Miss USA and the Miss Universe pageants.&nbsp;

In 2017, Toronto's Trump hotel rebranded itself and in 2018, the Trump International Hotel and Tower in Panama city, dropped his name.&nbsp;

The property's majority owner said the brand repelled guests.&nbsp;

India has the most number of Trump Tower structures outside North America in places like Mumbai, Pune, Gurugram and Kolkata.&nbsp;

Reports suggest that the brand is already suffering in India as there are no takers for the apartments.&nbsp;

What happened at the US Capitol and the second Trump impeachment added insult to the billionaire president's injury.&nbsp;

Now, R&amp;A, which runs the British Open, the oldest golf championship, has said that the tournament will not be held in Trump golf resort in Scotland.&nbsp;

<h2>End of Brand Trump?</h2>

The Republicans have always campaigned for Trump as an outsider who can solve the crisis in Washington.&nbsp;

Trump's approach was also to that of a complete outsider and in the beginning, it even was radical.&nbsp;

He shattered norms and said things that were deemed as unspeakable.&nbsp;

For America, it was attractive and that is why they voted to bring Trump into power.&nbsp;

But, lately, they realised that inexperience often breeds confusion and in Trump's case, it brought chaos.&nbsp;

He gambled on foreign policy, botched travel bans, showed no understanding of the system, interfered with the judiciary, and even attempted a coup.&nbsp;

So, is this the end of brand Trump?&nbsp;

<h2>What will Trump do?</h2>

After four years, the Americans learnt that an outsider may be attractive, but cannot always get the job done.&nbsp;

And so they elected Joe Biden, a man with 50 years in politics.&nbsp;

In a few days, Biden will take the oath and the question is what happens to Trump after he leaves the White House.&nbsp;

Jimmy Carter had his peanut farm, the Bush family has its oil interest and Trump has his properties and merchandise.&nbsp;

But, they are not exactly booming and experts believe he will return to real estate with interests outside America with India being one of the options.&nbsp;

Trump's son Donald Trump Jr in 2019 said that "India is a market that we would be very interested post-politics".&nbsp;

The question is who will fund Trump's properties.

His most important lender, Deutsche Bank is reportedly cutting ties with him.&nbsp;

Trump can run for the presidency again but that road has many legal hurdles.

Also, it will be difficult for the US to trust Trump again.&nbsp;

Giants like Coca Cola, Marriott, AT&amp;T, Walmart, General Motos are already suspending their political donations and more companies can follow.&nbsp;

This means that Trump will be going to need a new sales pitch.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

About ten years ago, Donald Trump was one of the strongest human brands ever. The world looked up to him as he was the man with the Midas touch. The billionaire businessman was not a career politician, but the people of the United States saw the perfect president in him.

About ten years ago, Donald Trump was one of the strongest human brands ever. The world looked up to him as he was the man with the Midas touch. The billionaire businessman was not a career politician, but the people of the United States saw the perfect president in him. Also read | Along with Trump impeachment, Biden urges US Senate to consider 'other urgent business' Trump won the presidency in 2016 but lost reputation, face and brand value. In 2015, America's retail giant Macy's cut ties with Trump after his comments on migrants and Mexico. Trump's menswear collection was phased out and NBC also cut its ties with the American president. It decided to no longer air the Miss USA and the Miss Universe pageants. In 2017, Toronto's Trump hotel rebranded itself and in 2018, the Trump International Hotel and Tower in Panama city, dropped his name. The property's majority owner said the brand repelled guests. India has the most number of Trump Tower structures outside North America in places like Mumbai, Pune, Gurugram and Kolkata. Reports suggest that the brand is already suffering in India as there are no takers for the apartments. What happened at the US Capitol and the second Trump impeachment added insult to the billionaire president's injury. Now, R&A, which runs the British Open, the oldest golf championship, has said that the tournament will not be held in Trump golf resort in Scotland. End of Brand Trump? The Republicans have always campaigned for Trump as an outsider who can solve the crisis in Washington. Trump's approach was also to that of a complete outsider and in the beginning, it even was radical. He shattered norms and said things that were deemed as unspeakable. For America, it was attractive and that is why they voted to bring Trump into power. But, lately, they realised that inexperience often breeds confusion and in Trump's case, it brought chaos. He gambled on foreign policy, botched travel bans, showed no understanding of the system, interfered with the judiciary, and even attempted a coup. So, is this the end of brand Trump? What will Trump do? After four years, the Americans learnt that an outsider may be attractive, but cannot always get the job done. And so they elected Joe Biden, a man with 50 years in politics. In a few days, Biden will take the oath and the question is what happens to Trump after he leaves the White House. Jimmy Carter had his peanut farm, the Bush family has its oil interest and Trump has his properties and merchandise. But, they are not exactly booming and experts believe he will return to real estate with interests outside America with India being one of the options. Trump's son Donald Trump Jr in 2019 said that "India is a market that we would be very interested post-politics". The question is who will fund Trump's properties. His most important lender, Deutsche Bank is reportedly cutting ties with him. Trump can run for the presidency again but that road has many legal hurdles. Also, it will be difficult for the US to trust Trump again. Giants like Coca Cola, Marriott, AT&T, Walmart, General Motos are already suspending their political donations and more companies can follow. This means that Trump will be going to need a new sales pitch.

As Trump set to end presidency, are these final days of his brand too?

Actor Macaulay Culkin, best known for playing Kevin McCallister in the 1990s classic 'Home Alone' is not a fan of Donald Trump. On Wednesday, the actor showed his support to one fan's call for the removal of President Trump from a scene in 'Home Alone 2: Lost in New York'.&nbsp;

Trump had a cameo appearance in the film where Culkin's character Kevin McCallister visited the Plaza which was owned by the US President at that time.&nbsp; 
 
After one fan tweeted, "Petition to digitally replace trump in 'home alone 2' with 40-year-old macaulay culkin," Culkin replied, "Sold."&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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Sold.
— Macaulay Culkin (@IncredibleCulk) <a href="https://twitter.com/IncredibleCulk/status/1349248426542657538?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 13, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Another fan took a step further and edited Trump out of the particular scene with a young Culking walking around the Plaza Hotel and asking no one in particular, "Excuse me, where is the lobby?" 
 
The clip then cuts to silence where actually Trump's single line used to be. Culkin replied to the post with a "Bravo."&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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Bravo.
— Macaulay Culkin (@IncredibleCulk) <a href="https://twitter.com/IncredibleCulk/status/1349248652234035200?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 13, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Earlier in an interview, the film's director Christopher Columbus had revealed that Donald Trump's cameo in the film was at his own request. Trump had reportedly allowed the crew to film at the Plaza with the condition that he would have a cameo in the film. 
 
"We paid the fee, but he also said, 'The only way you can use the Plaza is if I'm in the movie,'" Columbus told Insider in November last year. "So we agreed to put him in the movie."

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/thought-it-was-like-dying-chrissy-teigen-cardi-b-mark-hamill-and-others-react-to-donald-trumps-impeachment-news-356673">Chrissy Teigen, Cardi B and others react to Trump's impeachment news</a> 
 
On Wednesday, Trump became the first American President to be impeached twice. Trump was impeached for inciting violence at the Capitol last week when a mob of his followers broke into the Capitol building.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/canadian-channel-deletes-donald-trumps-scene-from-home-alone-2-claim-its-not-politically-motivated-270478">Also read:&nbsp;Canadian channel deletes Donald Trump's scene from 'Home Alone 2'; claim it's not politically motivated</a>

Actor Macaulay Culkin, best known for playing Kevin McCallister in the 1990s classic 'Home Alone' is not a fan of Donald Trump. On Wednesday, the actor showed his support to one fan's call for the removal of President Trump from a scene in 'Home Alone 2: Lost in New York'.

Actor Macaulay Culkin, best known for playing Kevin McCallister in the 1990s classic 'Home Alone' is not a fan of Donald Trump. On Wednesday, the actor showed his support to one fan's call for the removal of President Trump from a scene in 'Home Alone 2: Lost in New York'. Trump had a cameo appearance in the film where Culkin's character Kevin McCallister visited the Plaza which was owned by the US President at that time. After one fan tweeted, "Petition to digitally replace trump in 'home alone 2' with 40-year-old macaulay culkin," Culkin replied, "Sold." Sold. — Macaulay Culkin (@IncredibleCulk) January 13, 2021 × Another fan took a step further and edited Trump out of the particular scene with a young Culking walking around the Plaza Hotel and asking no one in particular, "Excuse me, where is the lobby?" The clip then cuts to silence where actually Trump's single line used to be. Culkin replied to the post with a "Bravo." Bravo. — Macaulay Culkin (@IncredibleCulk) January 13, 2021 × Earlier in an interview, the film's director Christopher Columbus had revealed that Donald Trump's cameo in the film was at his own request. Trump had reportedly allowed the crew to film at the Plaza with the condition that he would have a cameo in the film. "We paid the fee, but he also said, 'The only way you can use the Plaza is if I'm in the movie,'" Columbus told Insider in November last year. "So we agreed to put him in the movie." Also read: Chrissy Teigen, Cardi B and others react to Trump's impeachment news On Wednesday, Trump became the first American President to be impeached twice. Trump was impeached for inciting violence at the Capitol last week when a mob of his followers broke into the Capitol building. Also read: Canadian channel deletes Donald Trump's scene from 'Home Alone 2'; claim it's not politically motivated

Macaulay Culkin supports fan's demand to edit Donald Trump's scene from 'Home Alone 2'

The United States on Friday (February 7) offered $100m aid to China and other countries who are fighting coronavirus. The number of deaths due to China's coronavirus epidemic jumped to 722, surpassing the toll from the SARS outbreak on the mainland and Hong Kong almost two decades ago.

Coronavirus Outbreak: US offers $100m aid to China

US President Donald Trump at the White House on Thursday (February 6) unleashed his fury over being charged in the impeachment trial and thanked his family for standing by him through it all. Trump said, 'I've always said they're lousy politicians, but they do two things. They're vicious and mean vicious.'

Donald Trump lashes out at the democrats

President Donald Trump's hopes for a speedy acquittal by the Senate received a boost on Thursday as Democrats suffered a setback in their efforts to introduce new witnesses at his impeachment trial.

President Donald Trump's hopes for a speedy acquittal by the Senate received a boost on Thursday as Democrats suffered a setback in their efforts to introduce new witnesses at his impeachment trial. Democrats had sought to have Trump's former national security advisor John Bolton testify but a key Republican senator said he would vote "no" when the question of calling further witnesses is put to the Senate on Friday. If the witness motion is rejected, Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a key Trump ally, could conceivably call for a vote to acquit the president of the impeachment charges as soon as Friday. A two-thirds majority - or 67 senators - is needed to remove a president from office, and the 53-47 Republican majority in the Senate means Trump is virtually certain to be acquitted. Democrats were particularly eager to hear from Bolton following reports that he claims in an upcoming book to have been personally told by Trump that military aid to Ukraine was tied to Kyiv investigating his Democratic rival Joe Biden. The charge is at the heart of the December 18 impeachment of the 45th US president for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress by the Democratic-majority House of Representatives. Also Read: Trump Impeachment Poll: 47% Want Trump Out Of White House Four Republican votes are needed to allow new witnesses but Republican Senator Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, who had been considered a possible swing vote, issued a statement late Thursday saying there was no need for more evidence. "It was inappropriate for the president to ask a foreign leader to investigate his political opponent and to withhold United States aid to encourage that investigation," Alexander said. "But the Constitution does not give the Senate the power to remove the president from office and ban him from this year's ballot simply for actions that are inappropriate," he said. Republican Senator Susan Collins of Maine said she would support the call for witnesses, and Utah Senator Mitt Romney has said he was "very likely" to do so. Another wavering Republican - Lisa Murkowski of Alaska - has said she will announce her decision Friday morning. In the event of a 50-50 tie, US Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, who is presiding over the trial, could be called upon to end the deadlock. If he declines to vote, the motion calling for witnesses would fail. 'Purely partisan impeachment' Chief Democratic prosecutor Adam Schiff, in a last-ditch bid on Thursday to win over Republican senators wary of a drawn-out process, proposed a one-week time frame to secure new witness testimony. "Let's have a reasonable accommodation here," the California lawmaker told the 100 senators sitting as jurors at the historic trial. "We'll take one week, and you'll continue with the business of the Senate." Trump's defence team rejected the Democratic calls for more witnesses. "They said for weeks it was an overwhelming case," said White House deputy counsel Patrick Philbin. "If that's their position, why do they need more witnesses?" White House counsel Pat Cipollone argued for an early acquittal, saying it "would be the best thing for our country. We're dealing with a purely partisan impeachment," Cipollone said, accusing Democrats of using impeachment "as a political weapon." Voters - not the Senate - should decide Trump's fate in the November presidential election, he said. Cipollone and Schiff made their remarks during an occasionally testy Senate session during which Democratic and Republican senators directed questions to the House prosecutors and White House defence team. House impeachment managers expressed outrage over an assertion by one of Trump's lawyers, Harvard professor emeritus Alan Dershowitz, that a president can do almost anything he wants if he believes his re-election was "in the public interest." Schiff said the claim echoed the Watergate case of disgraced president Richard Nixon 45 years ago. "What we have seen in the last couple of days is a descent into constitutional madness," Schiff said. "Almost half a century ago, we had a president who said, 'Well, when the president does it that means it is not illegal.'" "Have we learned nothing in the last half-century?" Schiff asked. "That is the normalization of lawlessness," he said. "I would hope that every American would recognize that it's wrong to seek foreign help in an American election." 'Disgrace' Trump's defence team has argued alternatively that the impeachment is politically driven, that Trump did not tie Ukraine aid to the investigations he sought, that he had reason to seek a probe into his political rival and that he had the legal right to do so as president. The president has repeatedly denied wrongdoing, calling the entire process a politically driven "witch hunt" and a "disgrace." Speaking at a campaign rally on Thursday in Des Moines, Iowa, Trump said, "We're having the best years in the history of our country and I just got impeached." Democrats are to hold their first vote in Iowa on Monday in the process of selecting a candidate to face Trump in November's presidential election.

Senate poised to acquit Donald Trump as witness motion appears doomed

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/.../china-virus-death-toll-passes-100-as-us-canada- issue-travel-warning-276958">Donald Trump</a>'s impeachment trial was expected to be a mere formality, but the Republican-dominated Senate has virtually ruled out removing their President. Or so it seemed before Trump's former national security adviser John Bolton dropped a bombshell in the form of evidence that cuts directly at the root of Trump's defence. The President's lawyers have argued that he never leveraged aid to Ukraine to acquire damaging information against Joe Biden and his son Hunter.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-top-court-sides-with-trump-on-immigrant-welfare-benefits-276959">Also read: US top court sides with Trump on immigrant welfare benefits</a>

But from a leaked page of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/.../trump-had-ukraine-aid-withheld-reveals-boltons -new-book-276814">John Bolton</a>'s upcoming book, it seems the president told his top aide that aid to Ukraine will be withheld. This has increased pressure on Republican senators to give in to the demand for new witnesses, especially since Bolton had expressed his desire to testify, given how the Democrats need only 4 Republicans to join them for a bipartisan majority. Republican senators Mitt Romney and Susan Collins said the leaked excerpts highlight the necessity of witness testimony from individuals such as John Bolton.

Trump's team largely avoided the Bolton issue on the floor of the Senate, stating that there was nothing new in the former NSA's leaked accounts. The possibility of Trump's team trying to prevent Bolton from testifying and also discrediting his public comments is plausible. Trump's lawyer Rudy Giuliani was called a 'human hand grenade' in the Ukraine scandal by former National Security Advisor John Bolton.&nbsp;

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These claims were dismissed by Jane Raskin, Donald Trump's impeachment attorney who called <a href="https://www.wionews.com/.../trump-caught-saying-get-rid-of-ukraine- ambassador-on-tape-report-276592">Giuliani</a> a "colourful distraction, a household name, a legendary federal prosecutor who took down the mafia, corrupt public officials, wall street racketeers. Crime busting mayor, who cleaned up new york and turned it around. A national hero. America's mayor after 9/11. And after that, an internationally recognized expert on fighting corruption."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/.../white-house-lawyers-say-voters-should-decide- trumps-fate-276578">Joe Biden</a>'s son, Hunter Biden also received a lot of hostility from the President's team, who said that Hunter's decision to join a Ukraine-based company had raised many eyebrows. Pam Bondi, an attorney on Trump's legal team said that "Hunter Biden's decision to join Burma raised flags almost immediately. One article from may 2014 stated the appointment of Joe Biden's son to the board of Ukrainian gas firm Burisma has raised eyebrows the world over. Even an outlet with a bias for Democrats pointed out Hunter Biden's activities created a conflict of interest for Joe Biden. The article stated the move raises questions about a potential conflict of interest for Joe Biden."&nbsp;

But this leak could not have come at a better time for the Democrats, as it helps them to push their case for including new testimonies in the trial. So far the Senate Republicans have rejected this orthodox approach along partisan lines. "I certainly hope so. There seems to be a real shift in where the Republican senators are, and I think it's very hard for them to maintain that they wanted a fair trial. Wanted to know all the facts when there's a witness who said, I'm ready, I've got something to say. We have an outline of what he has to say. It's really hard to say we're not going to hear that," said Adam Schiff, lead House Impeachment Manager.

Donald Trump's impeachment trial was expected to be a mere formality, but the Republican-dominated Senate has virtually ruled out removing their President. Or so it seemed before Trump's former national security adviser John Bolton dropped a bombshell in the form of evidence that cuts directly at the root of Trump's defence.

Donald Trump's impeachment trial was expected to be a mere formality, but the Republican-dominated Senate has virtually ruled out removing their President. Or so it seemed before Trump's former national security adviser John Bolton dropped a bombshell in the form of evidence that cuts directly at the root of Trump's defence. The President's lawyers have argued that he never leveraged aid to Ukraine to acquire damaging information against Joe Biden and his son Hunter. Also read: US top court sides with Trump on immigrant welfare benefits But from a leaked page of John Bolton's upcoming book, it seems the president told his top aide that aid to Ukraine will be withheld. This has increased pressure on Republican senators to give in to the demand for new witnesses, especially since Bolton had expressed his desire to testify, given how the Democrats need only 4 Republicans to join them for a bipartisan majority. Republican senators Mitt Romney and Susan Collins said the leaked excerpts highlight the necessity of witness testimony from individuals such as John Bolton. Trump's team largely avoided the Bolton issue on the floor of the Senate, stating that there was nothing new in the former NSA's leaked accounts. The possibility of Trump's team trying to prevent Bolton from testifying and also discrediting his public comments is plausible. Trump's lawyer Rudy Giuliani was called a 'human hand grenade' in the Ukraine scandal by former National Security Advisor John Bolton. × These claims were dismissed by Jane Raskin, Donald Trump's impeachment attorney who called Giuliani a "colourful distraction, a household name, a legendary federal prosecutor who took down the mafia, corrupt public officials, wall street racketeers. Crime busting mayor, who cleaned up new york and turned it around. A national hero. America's mayor after 9/11. And after that, an internationally recognized expert on fighting corruption." Joe Biden's son, Hunter Biden also received a lot of hostility from the President's team, who said that Hunter's decision to join a Ukraine-based company had raised many eyebrows. Pam Bondi, an attorney on Trump's legal team said that "Hunter Biden's decision to join Burma raised flags almost immediately. One article from may 2014 stated the appointment of Joe Biden's son to the board of Ukrainian gas firm Burisma has raised eyebrows the world over. Even an outlet with a bias for Democrats pointed out Hunter Biden's activities created a conflict of interest for Joe Biden. The article stated the move raises questions about a potential conflict of interest for Joe Biden." But this leak could not have come at a better time for the Democrats, as it helps them to push their case for including new testimonies in the trial. So far the Senate Republicans have rejected this orthodox approach along partisan lines. "I certainly hope so. There seems to be a real shift in where the Republican senators are, and I think it's very hard for them to maintain that they wanted a fair trial. Wanted to know all the facts when there's a witness who said, I'm ready, I've got something to say. We have an outline of what he has to say. It's really hard to say we're not going to hear that," said Adam Schiff, lead House Impeachment Manager.

Impeachment trial of Donald Trump: All-Star Defence team scared of going near Bolton

In a major poll over US President Donald Trump that whether he should continue his office or not, 47% of the people believe that he should not. Watch whole story here.

Trump Impeachment Poll: 47% Want Trump Out Of White House

The Democrats layed out their case against President Trump for abuse of power as the Senate impeachment trial continues. Trump is charged with obstruction of Congress. However, Trump has denied these charges.

Donald Trump's Impeachment: Democrats lay out abuse of power case

Lead House&nbsp;impeachment&nbsp;manager <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/adam-schiff-to-lead-prosecution-in-us-senate-on-trump-impeachment-trial-pelosi-274484">Adam Schiff</a> called dramatically for the Senate to remove President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-to-sign-trade-accord-with-mexico-canada-next-week-276253">Donald Trump</a> from office Thursday, saying the US leader cannot be trusted to put the country's interests ahead of his own.

"The American people deserve a president they can count on, to put their interest first," said Schiff.

His impassioned words capped a long day in which Democrats detailed Trump's illicit scheme to pressure <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/democrats-accuse-trump-at-impeachment-trial-of-corrupt-scheme-to-pressure-ukraine-276105">Ukraine</a> to help his 2020 reelection campaign.&nbsp;

Also read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/democrats-accuse-trump-at-impeachment-trial-of-corrupt-scheme-to-pressure-ukraine-276105"> Democrats accuse Trump at impeachment trial of corrupt scheme to pressure Ukraine</a>

"You know, you can't trust this president to do what is right for this country. You can trust he will do what's right for Donald Trump," Schiff added.

"He'll do it now. He's done it before. He'll do it for the next several months. He'll do it in the election if he's allowed to. This is why, if you find him guilty, you must find that he should be removed."

"Because right matters. And truth matters. Otherwise, we are lost."

Also watch:&nbsp;Donald Trump's Impeachment: Democrats lay out abuse of power case

&nbsp;

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'It is illegal'

As the 100 senators sat as jurors and millions of Americans watched on television, House&nbsp;impeachment&nbsp;managers mustered scores of videos, internal documents and extensive witness testimony to lay out a strong case that the US leader abused his powers.

Schiff's prosecution team detailed how Trump flagrantly undertook last year to force <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/bodies-of-ukrainian-victims-of-downed-plane-repatriated-from-iran-275279">Kiev </a>to help him tarnish his possible 2020 reelection rival, former vice president Joe Biden.

"President Trump used the powers of his office to solicit a foreign nation to interfere in our elections for his own personal benefit," House Judiciary Committee Chair Jerry Nadler told the chamber.

"Since President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/george-washington-gold-coin-sells-for-17-million-159678">George Washington </a>took office in 1789, no president has abused his power in this way," Nadler said.

"The president has repeatedly, flagrantly, violated his oath... The president's conduct is wrong. It is illegal. And it is dangerous."

'Unfair and corrupt'

Over nine hours the Democrats methodically dismantled Republican claims that Trump did nothing wrong.&nbsp;

They left few doubts that Trump's sole motivation in secretly freezing aid to Ukraine last July was to force Ukraine President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/volodymyr-zelensky-says-ukraine-getting-tired-of-trump-scandal-263215">Volodymyr Zelensky</a> to announce one investigation into Biden and a second into an unsupported story that Kiev helped Democrats in the 2016 election.

To puncture a key White House argument that the US constitution requires a specific crime to remove a president, they played old videos in which two of Trump's closest defenders, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham and storied criminal defense attorney Alan Dershowitz, said that abuse of power itself is a clear impeachable offense.&nbsp;

And they detailed the extensive role of Trump's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani in the scheme to pressure Zelensky, even while US intelligence and diplomatic chiefs disagreed with it.

"Donald Trump chose Rudy Giuliani over his own intelligence agencies. He chose Rudy Giuliani over his own national security advisors... That makes him dangerous to our country," said Schiff, who leads the House Intelligence Committee.

Also read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/impeachment-dream-team-meet-us-president-trumps-star-studded-legal-team-274978">&nbsp;Impeachment dream team: Meet US President Trump's star-studded legal team</a>

Uphill battle&nbsp;

Yet, three days into arguments into the historic trial, there were few signs that any of the Republican majority that Trump commands in the Senate would buy into the evidence and turn against him.

<img alt="Donald Trump" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="51672510-212d-4906-8c46-95972b7ed0a6" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/2020-01-22T231541Z_1_LYNXMPEG0L2GF_RTROPTP_3_USA-TRUMP-IMPEACHMENT-POLL.JPG" />

"What we heard from the managers yesterday, the day before, it is the same thing, day after day after day," said Republican Senator John Barrasso.

"We're hearing the same things over and over," said Trump attorney Jay Sekulow. "We will be putting on vigorous defense of both facts and rebutting what they've said."

At the White House, Trump unleashed a barrage of tweets attacking the process as "loaded with lies and misrepresentations."

"Most unfair &amp; corrupt hearing in Congressional history!" he tweeted

Witness issue

Democratic prosecutors will complete their arguments Friday with a focus on the second&nbsp;impeachment&nbsp;charge, obstruction of Congress, before Trump's legal team holds the floor in his defense for three days.

Democrats are hoping their arguments will at least persuade some Republicans, who hold a 53-47 majority in the Senate, to support their call to issue subpoenas next week for four top current and former Trump aides to testify, and for internal White House records about the Ukraine affair.

But all indications were that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, in coordination with the White House, will seek to stifle witness requests and bring the trial to a close with a vote to acquit Trump by the end of next week.

Both Trump and McConnell said early this week that the White House could claim executive privilege to refuse the subpoenas, forcing a court challenge that could prolong the case well into February.

Lead House impeachment manager Adam Schiff called dramatically for the Senate to remove President Donald Trump from office Thursday, saying the US leader cannot be trusted to put the country's interests ahead of his own.

Lead House impeachment manager Adam Schiff called dramatically for the Senate to remove President Donald Trump from office Thursday, saying the US leader cannot be trusted to put the country's interests ahead of his own. "The American people deserve a president they can count on, to put their interest first," said Schiff. His impassioned words capped a long day in which Democrats detailed Trump's illicit scheme to pressure Ukraine to help his 2020 reelection campaign. Also read: Democrats accuse Trump at impeachment trial of corrupt scheme to pressure Ukraine "You know, you can't trust this president to do what is right for this country. You can trust he will do what's right for Donald Trump," Schiff added. "He'll do it now. He's done it before. He'll do it for the next several months. He'll do it in the election if he's allowed to. This is why, if you find him guilty, you must find that he should be removed." "Because right matters. And truth matters. Otherwise, we are lost." Also watch: Donald Trump's Impeachment: Democrats lay out abuse of power case 'It is illegal' As the 100 senators sat as jurors and millions of Americans watched on television, House impeachment managers mustered scores of videos, internal documents and extensive witness testimony to lay out a strong case that the US leader abused his powers. Schiff's prosecution team detailed how Trump flagrantly undertook last year to force Kiev to help him tarnish his possible 2020 reelection rival, former vice president Joe Biden. "President Trump used the powers of his office to solicit a foreign nation to interfere in our elections for his own personal benefit," House Judiciary Committee Chair Jerry Nadler told the chamber. "Since President George Washington took office in 1789, no president has abused his power in this way," Nadler said. "The president has repeatedly, flagrantly, violated his oath... The president's conduct is wrong. It is illegal. And it is dangerous." 'Unfair and corrupt' Over nine hours the Democrats methodically dismantled Republican claims that Trump did nothing wrong. They left few doubts that Trump's sole motivation in secretly freezing aid to Ukraine last July was to force Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky to announce one investigation into Biden and a second into an unsupported story that Kiev helped Democrats in the 2016 election. To puncture a key White House argument that the US constitution requires a specific crime to remove a president, they played old videos in which two of Trump's closest defenders, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham and storied criminal defense attorney Alan Dershowitz, said that abuse of power itself is a clear impeachable offense. And they detailed the extensive role of Trump's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani in the scheme to pressure Zelensky, even while US intelligence and diplomatic chiefs disagreed with it. "Donald Trump chose Rudy Giuliani over his own intelligence agencies. He chose Rudy Giuliani over his own national security advisors... That makes him dangerous to our country," said Schiff, who leads the House Intelligence Committee. Also read: Impeachment dream team: Meet US President Trump's star-studded legal team Uphill battle Yet, three days into arguments into the historic trial, there were few signs that any of the Republican majority that Trump commands in the Senate would buy into the evidence and turn against him. "What we heard from the managers yesterday, the day before, it is the same thing, day after day after day," said Republican Senator John Barrasso. "We're hearing the same things over and over," said Trump attorney Jay Sekulow. "We will be putting on vigorous defense of both facts and rebutting what they've said." At the White House, Trump unleashed a barrage of tweets attacking the process as "loaded with lies and misrepresentations." "Most unfair & corrupt hearing in Congressional history!" he tweeted Witness issue Democratic prosecutors will complete their arguments Friday with a focus on the second impeachment charge, obstruction of Congress, before Trump's legal team holds the floor in his defense for three days. Democrats are hoping their arguments will at least persuade some Republicans, who hold a 53-47 majority in the Senate, to support their call to issue subpoenas next week for four top current and former Trump aides to testify, and for internal White House records about the Ukraine affair. But all indications were that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, in coordination with the White House, will seek to stifle witness requests and bring the trial to a close with a vote to acquit Trump by the end of next week. Both Trump and McConnell said early this week that the White House could claim executive privilege to refuse the subpoenas, forcing a court challenge that could prolong the case well into February.

Donald Trump 'should be removed': Adam Schiff

Democrats&nbsp;accused President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/kem-chho-trump-us-president-to-visit-ahmedabad-delhi-in-february-275056">Donald&nbsp;Trump</a>&nbsp;at his&nbsp;impeachment&nbsp;trial&nbsp;on Wednesday of a&nbsp;corrupt&nbsp;scheme&nbsp;to&nbsp;pressure&nbsp;Ukraine&nbsp;to help him get re-elected and warned that America's global prestige would suffer if the US&nbsp;Senate acquits him.

The Republican&nbsp;Trump, who has denied wrongdoing, sounded a defiant note, telling reporters in Switzerland the&nbsp;Democrats&nbsp;did not have enough evidence to find him guilty and remove him from office.

In a two-hour opening argument for the prosecution after days of procedural wrangling, US&nbsp;Representative Adam Schiff said&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;had pushed Ukrainian President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-mike-pompeo-to-meet-ukraines-president-volodymyr-zelenskiy-on-friday-271101">Volodymyr Zelenskiy</a> to investigate former Vice President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/joe-biden-unveils-17-trillion-climate-plan-to-end-us-carbon-emissions-by-2050-224374">Joe Biden</a> and Biden's son on unsubstantiated&nbsp;corruption charges last year.

<img alt="Donald Trump" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="3739d001-a792-432b-a9c2-3951a11ce9d4" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%2858%29_0.jpg" />

"To implement this&nbsp;corrupt&nbsp;scheme, President&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;pressured the president of&nbsp;Ukraine&nbsp;to publicly announce investigations into two discredited allegations that would benefit President&nbsp;Trump's <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/giuliani-says-trump-did-not-pay-for-his-push-for-biden-probe-252746">2020 presidential campaign</a>," said Schiff, leading the House&nbsp;Democrats' prosecution team of “managers."

The Democratic team pressed its case against&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;in eight hours of arguments, which will resume on Thursday.

They contend that&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;was trying to find dirt on Biden, a leading contender for the Democratic presidential nomination for the November election, and his son Hunter Biden who had served on the board of a Ukrainian gas company, to help the president win a second term.

Trump&nbsp;was impeached last month by the Democratic-controlled <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-house-of-representatives-curbs-trumps-war-power-amid-iran-tensions-273283">House of Representatives</a> on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress for his dealings with&nbsp;Ukraine&nbsp;and impeding the inquiry into the matter.

Trump&nbsp;is almost certain to be acquitted by the Republican-controlled 100-member Senate, where a two-thirds majority is needed to remove him from office. But the&nbsp;trial's effect on his re-election bid is unclear.

His fellow Republicans in the Senate say his behavior does not fit the description of "high crimes and misdemeanors" outlined in the US&nbsp;Constitution as a reason to oust a US&nbsp;president.

"We believe without question that the president will be acquitted,"&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;lawyer Jay Sekulow told reporters at the end of Wednesday's session.

Democrats&nbsp;have two more days to make their case.&nbsp;Trump's defense team will have three days after that for rebuttal in a&nbsp;trial&nbsp;that could potentially conclude next week.

<img alt="Donald Trump" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="88829e2f-5219-4d3c-8206-ec5e3cf93062" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%2857%29_1.jpg" />

The case against&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;is focused on a July 25 telephone call in which he asked Zelenskiy to open a&nbsp;corruption investigation into the Bidens as well as a discredited theory that&nbsp;Ukraine, not Russia, meddled in the 2016 US&nbsp;election. US&nbsp;military aid to&nbsp;Ukraine&nbsp;was frozen for a period of time.

"We have the evidence to prove President&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;ordered the aid withheld, he did so to force&nbsp;Ukraine&nbsp;to help his re-election campaign ... we can and will prove President&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;guilty of this conduct and of obstructing the investigation into his conduct," Schiff said as the day concluded.

Making references to 18th century US&nbsp;founding father Alexander Hamilton and the late Republican President Ronald Reagan, Schiff said the world was watching.

"For how can any country trust the United States as a model of governance if it's one that sanctions precisely the political&nbsp;corruption and invitation to foreign meddling that we have long sought to eradicate in burgeoning democracies around the world?"

He said senators would "also undermine our global standing" if they did not oust&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;three years into his tumultuous presidency.

<img alt="Donald Trump" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="8dea501e-b2f9-4a95-ad1c-6dff40ab11be" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%2856%29_2.jpg" />

Tuesday's start of the&nbsp;impeachment&nbsp;trial&nbsp;drew about 11 million TV viewers, according to Nielsen ratings data, a figure that fell short of the roughly 13.8 million who watched last November for the first day of the House&nbsp;impeachment&nbsp;inquiry into&nbsp;Trump.

It is the third presidential&nbsp;impeachment&nbsp;trial&nbsp;in US&nbsp;history. The opening days have been dominated by arguments over Democratic requests for more witnesses and records.

The&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;administration has not complied with subpoenas for documents and has urged officials like former national security adviser John Bolton and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo not to participate in the&nbsp;impeachment&nbsp;investigation.

A Reuters-Ipsos poll released on Wednesday found a bipartisan majority of Americans wanting to see new witnesses testify in the&nbsp;impeachment&nbsp;trial.

It said about 72&nbsp;per cent&nbsp;agreed that the&nbsp;trial&nbsp;"should allow witnesses with firsthand knowledge of the&nbsp;impeachment&nbsp;charges to testify," including 84&nbsp;per cent&nbsp;of&nbsp;Democrats&nbsp;and 69 per cent&nbsp;of Republicans.

In Davos, Switzerland,&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;told reporters at the World Economic Forum that he was happy with the way the&nbsp;trial&nbsp;was going.

"I thought our team did a very good job. But honestly, we have all the material. They don't have the material,"&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;said.

Democratic US&nbsp;Representative Val Demings, one of the House&nbsp;impeachment&nbsp;managers, said&nbsp;Trump's comment amounted to boasting about obstruction of Congress.

"This morning, the president not only confessed to it, but he also bragged about it: 'Honestly, we have all the material. They don't have the material,'" she said.

But a senior administration official asked to explain what&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;was referring to, said: "What he's clearly saying is we have all the facts on our side, and those facts prove he's done nothing wrong."

Trump&nbsp;said allowing Bolton to testify at the&nbsp;trial&nbsp;would present national security concerns.

"He knows some of my thoughts, he knows what I think about leaders. What happens if he reveals what I think about a certain leader and it's not very positive?"&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;said.

Bolton, a foreign policy hawk who was fired by&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;last year, has disdainfully described the&nbsp;Ukraine&nbsp;pressure&nbsp;campaign as a "drug deal" and testimony from him could be awkward for the president.

A parade of current and former officials spoke at House&nbsp;impeachment&nbsp;hearings last year of a coordinated&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;effort to&nbsp;pressure&nbsp;Ukraine.

But those televised hearings did little to change support for and against&nbsp;Trump's&nbsp;impeachment. Reuters/Ipsos polling since the inquiry began shows&nbsp;Democrats&nbsp;and Republicans responding largely along party lines.

Democrats accused President Donald Trump at his impeachment trial on Wednesday of a corrupt scheme to pressure Ukraine to help him get re-elected and warned that America's global prestige would suffer if the US Senate acquits him.

Democrats accused President Donald Trump at his impeachment trial on Wednesday of a corrupt scheme to pressure Ukraine to help him get re-elected and warned that America's global prestige would suffer if the US Senate acquits him. The Republican Trump, who has denied wrongdoing, sounded a defiant note, telling reporters in Switzerland the Democrats did not have enough evidence to find him guilty and remove him from office. In a two-hour opening argument for the prosecution after days of procedural wrangling, US Representative Adam Schiff said Trump had pushed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden and Biden's son on unsubstantiated corruption charges last year. "To implement this corrupt scheme, President Trump pressured the president of Ukraine to publicly announce investigations into two discredited allegations that would benefit President Trump's 2020 presidential campaign," said Schiff, leading the House Democrats' prosecution team of “managers." The Democratic team pressed its case against Trump in eight hours of arguments, which will resume on Thursday. They contend that Trump was trying to find dirt on Biden, a leading contender for the Democratic presidential nomination for the November election, and his son Hunter Biden who had served on the board of a Ukrainian gas company, to help the president win a second term. Trump was impeached last month by the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress for his dealings with Ukraine and impeding the inquiry into the matter. Trump is almost certain to be acquitted by the Republican-controlled 100-member Senate, where a two-thirds majority is needed to remove him from office. But the trial's effect on his re-election bid is unclear. His fellow Republicans in the Senate say his behavior does not fit the description of "high crimes and misdemeanors" outlined in the US Constitution as a reason to oust a US president. "We believe without question that the president will be acquitted," Trump lawyer Jay Sekulow told reporters at the end of Wednesday's session. Democrats have two more days to make their case. Trump's defense team will have three days after that for rebuttal in a trial that could potentially conclude next week. The case against Trump is focused on a July 25 telephone call in which he asked Zelenskiy to open a corruption investigation into the Bidens as well as a discredited theory that Ukraine, not Russia, meddled in the 2016 US election. US military aid to Ukraine was frozen for a period of time. "We have the evidence to prove President Trump ordered the aid withheld, he did so to force Ukraine to help his re-election campaign ... we can and will prove President Trump guilty of this conduct and of obstructing the investigation into his conduct," Schiff said as the day concluded. Making references to 18th century US founding father Alexander Hamilton and the late Republican President Ronald Reagan, Schiff said the world was watching. "For how can any country trust the United States as a model of governance if it's one that sanctions precisely the political corruption and invitation to foreign meddling that we have long sought to eradicate in burgeoning democracies around the world?" He said senators would "also undermine our global standing" if they did not oust Trump three years into his tumultuous presidency. Tuesday's start of the impeachment trial drew about 11 million TV viewers, according to Nielsen ratings data, a figure that fell short of the roughly 13.8 million who watched last November for the first day of the House impeachment inquiry into Trump. It is the third presidential impeachment trial in US history. The opening days have been dominated by arguments over Democratic requests for more witnesses and records. The Trump administration has not complied with subpoenas for documents and has urged officials like former national security adviser John Bolton and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo not to participate in the impeachment investigation. A Reuters-Ipsos poll released on Wednesday found a bipartisan majority of Americans wanting to see new witnesses testify in the impeachment trial. It said about 72 per cent agreed that the trial "should allow witnesses with firsthand knowledge of the impeachment charges to testify," including 84 per cent of Democrats and 69 per cent of Republicans. In Davos, Switzerland, Trump told reporters at the World Economic Forum that he was happy with the way the trial was going. "I thought our team did a very good job. But honestly, we have all the material. They don't have the material," Trump said. Democratic US Representative Val Demings, one of the House impeachment managers, said Trump's comment amounted to boasting about obstruction of Congress. "This morning, the president not only confessed to it, but he also bragged about it: 'Honestly, we have all the material. They don't have the material,'" she said. But a senior administration official asked to explain what Trump was referring to, said: "What he's clearly saying is we have all the facts on our side, and those facts prove he's done nothing wrong." Trump said allowing Bolton to testify at the trial would present national security concerns. "He knows some of my thoughts, he knows what I think about leaders. What happens if he reveals what I think about a certain leader and it's not very positive?" Trump said. Bolton, a foreign policy hawk who was fired by Trump last year, has disdainfully described the Ukraine pressure campaign as a "drug deal" and testimony from him could be awkward for the president. A parade of current and former officials spoke at House impeachment hearings last year of a coordinated Trump effort to pressure Ukraine. But those televised hearings did little to change support for and against Trump's impeachment. Reuters/Ipsos polling since the inquiry began shows Democrats and Republicans responding largely along party lines.

Democrats accuse Trump at impeachment trial of corrupt scheme to pressure Ukraine

The US House of Representative is expected&nbsp;to send documents of impeachment against President Donald Trump to the Republicans-dominated Senate this week.&nbsp;

What happens in the House

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi will is expected to meet the Democrats to discuss the formal impeachment charges against Trump over his dealings with Ukraine.

The House Judiciary Committee chairman Jerrold Nadler is likely to bring forward a resolution that will formally transmit the charges against Trump to the Senate.

Some Democrats will be then appointed as impeachment managers&nbsp;in order to prosecute the US President in the Senate.

Senate Process

After the Senate receives a notification from the House that the managers have been appointed, it would&nbsp;adopt a resolution, saying it is ready to receive the managers to present the charges.&nbsp;

US Chief Justice John Roberts would be sworn in to preside over the trial. Senators would be sworn in as jurors. Once the proceedings begin, the House managers would present their charges against the President. Thereafter, Trump's legal team will respond to the charges.

The Senators, sworn in as jurors, would then be given time to submit questions to each side. The Senate is expected to vote to acquit Trump. 
 
With a two-thirds vote required to convict the president, Trump’s acquittal in the Republican-controlled chamber is assured. The Constitution requires 67 votes to convict the President whereas only 34 votes to remove him.

What are the charges against Trump

Trump is accused of pushing Ukraine into investigating his Democratic rival Joe Biden. 
 
The charges say that Trump repeatedly asked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to investigate whether Biden misused his position as Vice-President to threaten to withhold US&nbsp;aid unless a prosecutor who was looking into the gas company in which Biden's son was involved was fired. 
 
 
&nbsp;

The US House of Representative is expected to send documents of impeachment against President Donald Trump to the Republicans-dominated Senate this week. What happens in the House House Speaker Nancy Pelosi will is expected to meet the Democrats to discuss the formal impeachment charges against Trump over his dealings with Ukraine.

The US House of Representative is expected to send documents of impeachment against President Donald Trump to the Republicans-dominated Senate this week. What happens in the House House Speaker Nancy Pelosi will is expected to meet the Democrats to discuss the formal impeachment charges against Trump over his dealings with Ukraine. The House Judiciary Committee chairman Jerrold Nadler is likely to bring forward a resolution that will formally transmit the charges against Trump to the Senate. Some Democrats will be then appointed as impeachment managers in order to prosecute the US President in the Senate. Senate Process After the Senate receives a notification from the House that the managers have been appointed, it would adopt a resolution, saying it is ready to receive the managers to present the charges. US Chief Justice John Roberts would be sworn in to preside over the trial. Senators would be sworn in as jurors. Once the proceedings begin, the House managers would present their charges against the President. Thereafter, Trump's legal team will respond to the charges. The Senators, sworn in as jurors, would then be given time to submit questions to each side. The Senate is expected to vote to acquit Trump. With a two-thirds vote required to convict the president, Trump’s acquittal in the Republican-controlled chamber is assured. The Constitution requires 67 votes to convict the President whereas only 34 votes to remove him. What are the charges against Trump Trump is accused of pushing Ukraine into investigating his Democratic rival Joe Biden. The charges say that Trump repeatedly asked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to investigate whether Biden misused his position as Vice-President to threaten to withhold US aid unless a prosecutor who was looking into the gas company in which Biden's son was involved was fired.

US President Donald Trump's impeachment: What happens next

Russian spies hacked a Ukrainian energy company at the centre of the impeachment trial of US President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/bernie-sanders-said-no-woman-could-beat-donald-trump-in-2020-elizabeth-warren-274125">Donald Trump</a>, a cybersecurity firm said Monday.

Russia's GRU spy agency launched a "<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-linked-hackers-stole-sensitive-information-microsoft-271217">phishing</a>" attack in November to access the email of Burisma Holdings employees, California cyber firm Area 1 Security said in a report.

"The timing of the GRU's campaign in relation to the 2020 US elections raises the spectre that this is an early warning of what we have anticipated since the successful cyberattacks undertaken during the 2016 US elections," Area 1 co-founders Oren J. Falkowitz and Blake Darche said in the eight-page document.

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Here's a link to the <a href="https://twitter.com/Area1Security?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Area1Security</a> report on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/phishing?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#phishing</a> of Burisma Holdings by the GRU <a href="https://t.co/oTEvMwmsjs">https://t.co/oTEvMwmsjs</a> <a href="https://t.co/XEmXumrww8">pic.twitter.com/XEmXumrww8</a>
— Oren J. Falkowitz (@orenfalkowitz) <a href="https://twitter.com/orenfalkowitz/status/1216874240848228352?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 14, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Trump was impeached in December over allegations that he improperly pressured Ukraine to announce an investigation into Burisma and its links to former board member Hunter Biden, the son of the president's election rival Joe Biden.

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russian-government-linked-hackers-targeting-anti-doping-authorities-sports-organizations-microsoft-258571">GRU</a> figured heavily in the Mueller report on Russian interference in the 2016 presidential campaign, which concluded that Russia hacked the Democratic Party and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/shameful-for-uk-not-to-publish-russia-meddling-probe-clinton-261520">Hillary Clinton's</a> campaign to help Trump.

The president triggered wide alarm in Washington in July 2018 after he met President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pm-modi-and-russias-putin-discuss-regional-global-issues-in-telephonic-conversation-274090">Vladimir Putin</a> in Helsinki and appeared to take at face value Putin's denials of Russian meddling.

In a July 2019 phone call with his Ukrainian counterpart <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-demands-punishment-compensation-for-airliner-downed-by-iran-273583">Volodymyr Zelensky</a>, Trump pushed for Kiev to investigate a debunked Kremlin conspiracy theory that Biden, one of the Democrats most likely to challenge Trump for the White House in November, had tried to quash a graft probe of Burisma to protect his son.&nbsp;

The GRU, a military intelligence unit, got into the servers of Burisma Holdings, Area 1 said, although it is not clear what they found or what they were looking for.

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The Russians appear to be at it again. According to a new report, they’re hacking information that could be a prelude to more election interference in 2020. 
 
And again, it appears aimed to help Trump. 
 
We must reject foreign meddling. 
 
Americans should decide American elections. <a href="https://t.co/ipFsqq5yJz">https://t.co/ipFsqq5yJz</a>
— Adam Schiff (@RepAdamSchiff) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepAdamSchiff/status/1216921237009633281?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 14, 2020</a></blockquote>
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"The Russians appear to be at it again," tweeted <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/i-am-prepared-to-testify-in-trump-impeachment-trial-john-bolton-272608">Adam Schiff</a>, the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee who led Trump's impeachment investigation for the Democrats.

"According to a new report, they're hacking information that could be a prelude to more election interference in 2020. And again, it appears aimed to help Trump."

The report was released with Trump expected to stand trial in the Senate as early as this week on two articles of impeachment, abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.

Russian spies hacked a Ukrainian energy company at the centre of the impeachment trial of US President Donald Trump, a cybersecurity firm said Monday. Russia's GRU spy agency launched a "phishing" attack in November to access the email of Burisma Holdings employees, California cyber firm Area 1 Security said in a report.

Russian spies hacked a Ukrainian energy company at the centre of the impeachment trial of US President Donald Trump, a cybersecurity firm said Monday. Russia's GRU spy agency launched a "phishing" attack in November to access the email of Burisma Holdings employees, California cyber firm Area 1 Security said in a report. "The timing of the GRU's campaign in relation to the 2020 US elections raises the spectre that this is an early warning of what we have anticipated since the successful cyberattacks undertaken during the 2016 US elections," Area 1 co-founders Oren J. Falkowitz and Blake Darche said in the eight-page document. Here's a link to the @Area1Security report on #phishing of Burisma Holdings by the GRU https://t.co/oTEvMwmsjs pic.twitter.com/XEmXumrww8 — Oren J. Falkowitz (@orenfalkowitz) January 14, 2020 × Trump was impeached in December over allegations that he improperly pressured Ukraine to announce an investigation into Burisma and its links to former board member Hunter Biden, the son of the president's election rival Joe Biden. The GRU figured heavily in the Mueller report on Russian interference in the 2016 presidential campaign, which concluded that Russia hacked the Democratic Party and Hillary Clinton's campaign to help Trump. The president triggered wide alarm in Washington in July 2018 after he met President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki and appeared to take at face value Putin's denials of Russian meddling. In a July 2019 phone call with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky, Trump pushed for Kiev to investigate a debunked Kremlin conspiracy theory that Biden, one of the Democrats most likely to challenge Trump for the White House in November, had tried to quash a graft probe of Burisma to protect his son. The GRU, a military intelligence unit, got into the servers of Burisma Holdings, Area 1 said, although it is not clear what they found or what they were looking for. The Russians appear to be at it again. According to a new report, they’re hacking information that could be a prelude to more election interference in 2020. And again, it appears aimed to help Trump. We must reject foreign meddling. Americans should decide American elections. https://t.co/ipFsqq5yJz — Adam Schiff (@RepAdamSchiff) January 14, 2020 × "The Russians appear to be at it again," tweeted Adam Schiff, the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee who led Trump's impeachment investigation for the Democrats. "According to a new report, they're hacking information that could be a prelude to more election interference in 2020. And again, it appears aimed to help Trump." The report was released with Trump expected to stand trial in the Senate as early as this week on two articles of impeachment, abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.

Russian spies hacked Ukrainian energy firm at center of Trump impeachment

US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Sunday asserted that there is "enough testimony to remove President Donald Trump from office" when the impeachment hearing will move to Senate for the trial.&nbsp;

Pelosi will meet with the House Democratic caucus early Tuesday regarding the formal vote required to send the two articles of impeachment to the Senate.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/i-am-prepared-to-testify-in-trump-impeachment-trial-john-bolton-272608">I am prepared to testify in Trump impeachment trial: John Bolton</a>

The trial in Senate is expected to be held quickly as Republicans have enough votes to reject impeachment charges.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-impeachment-row-us-senate-in-stalemate-over-how-to-proceed-272003">Trump impeachment row: US Senate in stalemate over how to proceed</a>

Trump was impeached on December 18 by the House for pressurising Ukraine to investigate his potential 2020 election rival Joe Biden and obstructing the subsequent congressional probe.

Pelosi had hoped to convince Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell for allowing new evidence and witnesses in the trial. McConnell, however, has not budged.&nbsp;

"We wanted the public to see the need for witnesses," she told ABC on Sunday.&nbsp;

"Now the ball is in their court, to either do that or pay a price for not doing it."

McConnell claimed that Republicans have enough votes to block Democrats demand on witnesses and evidence.&nbsp;

The Speaker also said that new emails that back charges against the US President have emerged. Pelosi added that former national security adviser John Bolton has also expressed willingness to participate in the trial if subpoenaed.

Trump, earlier, had said in an interview on Friday that he might use executive privilege to block Bolton's testimony.&nbsp;The US President has expressed confidence on the trial and asked to done with it as soon as possible.&nbsp;

"Why should I have the stigma of Impeachment attached to my name when I did nothing wrong," the president tweeted on Sunday. "Very unfair to tens of millions of voters!"

(with inputs from AFP)

US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Sunday asserted that there is "enough testimony to remove President Donald Trump from office" when the impeachment hearing will move to Senate for the trial.

US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Sunday asserted that there is "enough testimony to remove President Donald Trump from office" when the impeachment hearing will move to Senate for the trial. Pelosi will meet with the House Democratic caucus early Tuesday regarding the formal vote required to send the two articles of impeachment to the Senate. Also read: I am prepared to testify in Trump impeachment trial: John Bolton The trial in Senate is expected to be held quickly as Republicans have enough votes to reject impeachment charges. Also read: Trump impeachment row: US Senate in stalemate over how to proceed Trump was impeached on December 18 by the House for pressurising Ukraine to investigate his potential 2020 election rival Joe Biden and obstructing the subsequent congressional probe. Pelosi had hoped to convince Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell for allowing new evidence and witnesses in the trial. McConnell, however, has not budged. "We wanted the public to see the need for witnesses," she told ABC on Sunday. "Now the ball is in their court, to either do that or pay a price for not doing it." McConnell claimed that Republicans have enough votes to block Democrats demand on witnesses and evidence. The Speaker also said that new emails that back charges against the US President have emerged. Pelosi added that former national security adviser John Bolton has also expressed willingness to participate in the trial if subpoenaed. Trump, earlier, had said in an interview on Friday that he might use executive privilege to block Bolton's testimony. The US President has expressed confidence on the trial and asked to done with it as soon as possible. "Why should I have the stigma of Impeachment attached to my name when I did nothing wrong," the president tweeted on Sunday. "Very unfair to tens of millions of voters!" (with inputs from AFP)

Enough testimony to remove Donald Trump from office: Nancy Pelosi

U.S. President Donald Trump impeached in the House of Representatives. #Trump #USPresident #DonaldTrump

Gravitas: President Trump impeached in the house

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/i-did-nothing-wrong-says-trump-ahead-of-impeachment-vote-in-us-house-269000">Donald&nbsp;Trump</a>&nbsp;on Wednesday became the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-on-track-to-become-third-us-president-to-be-impeached-268809">third&nbsp;US&nbsp;president to be impeached</a> as the&nbsp;House&nbsp;of Representatives formally charged him with abuse of power and obstruction of Congress in a&nbsp;historic&nbsp;step that will inflame partisan tensions across a deeply&nbsp;divided&nbsp;America.

Also Watch:&nbsp;Donald Trump impeached on two counts by US House

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The Democratic-led&nbsp;House's passage of two articles of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/how-does-the-impeachment-of-a-us-president-work-265766">impeachment</a> on a mostly party-line&nbsp;vote&nbsp;sets the stage for a trial next month in the Republican-controlled Senate, friendlier terrain for&nbsp;Trump, on whether to convict and remove him from office.

No president in the 243-year history of the United States has been removed from office by impeachment. That would require a two-thirds majority in the 100-member Senate, meaning at least 20 Republicans would have to join Democrats in voting against&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;and none have indicated they will.

The Senate's top Republican, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trumps-impeachment-trial-first-priority-in-january-us-senate-leader-267756">Mitch McConnell</a>, has predicted there is "no chance" his chamber will remove&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;when it holds its trial.&nbsp;House&nbsp;Speaker <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-pens-a-blistering-letter-to-nancy-pelosi-accuses-democrats-of-attempted-coup-268812">Nancy Pelosi </a>said after the&nbsp;vote&nbsp;she would wait to name the&nbsp;House&nbsp;managers, or prosecutors, until she knew more about the procedures for the Senate trial. She did not specify when she would send the articles to the Senate.

"So far, we haven't seen anything that looks fair to us," Pelosi told reporters.

Trump, 73, is accused of abusing his power by pressuring Ukraine to investigate political rival Joe Biden, a leading contender for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination, as well as a discredited theory that Democrats conspired with Ukraine to meddle in the 2016 election.

Democrats said&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;held back $391 million in security aid intended to combat Russia-backed separatists and a coveted White&nbsp;House&nbsp;meeting for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy as leverage to coerce Kiev into interfering in the 2020 election by smearing Biden.

The second article accused&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;of obstruction of Congress by directing administration officials and agencies not to comply with lawful&nbsp;House&nbsp;subpoenas for testimony and documents related to impeachment.

Trump, who is seeking another four-year term in the November 2020 presidential election, has denied wrongdoing and called the impeachment inquiry launched by Pelosi in September a "<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-faces-two-impeachment-deadlines-as-inquiry-shifts-focus-265580">witch hunt</a>."

At a raucous rally for his re-election in Battle Creek, Michigan, as the&nbsp;House&nbsp;voted,&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;said the impeachment would be a "mark of shame" for Democrats and Pelosi, and cost them in the 2020 election.

"This lawless, partisan impeachment is a political suicide march for the Democrat Party,"&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;said. "They're the ones who should be impeached, every one of them."

Here to defend democracy

During a daylong debate before the&nbsp;vote, Pelosi read the&nbsp;US&nbsp;Pledge of Allegiance and said: "We are here to defend democracy for the people."

"If we do not act now, we would be derelict in our duty. It is tragic that the president's reckless actions make impeachment necessary," Pelosi said.

Also Watch:&nbsp;Nancy Pelosi and Trump impeachment

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As the debate unfolded, Republicans accused Democrats of seeking to use an unfair, rigged process to nullify the 2016 election and influence the 2020&nbsp;vote.

"The matter before the&nbsp;House&nbsp;today is based solely on a fundamental hatred of our president. It's a sham, a witch hunt and it's tantamount to a coup against the duly elected president of the United States," Republican Representative Mike Rogers said.

Republican Representative <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/as-us-factories-falter-white-house-insists-economy-like-a-rock-254008">Mike Kelly</a> compared the impeachment to the Japanese attack on Hawaii's Pearl Harbor in 1941, calling the&nbsp;House&nbsp;proceedings another "date that will live in infamy", similar to the words Democratic President Franklin Roosevelt used to describe the raid that killed about 2,400 people and led to America's entry into World War Two.

The abuse of power article was passed on a 230-197&nbsp;vote&nbsp;and the obstruction article was passed 229-198. All of the&nbsp;House&nbsp;Republicans opposed the articles, and two Democrats, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-impeachment-effort-passes-first-test-in-divided-us-congress-259134">Collin Peterson and Jeff Van Drew</a>,&nbsp;voted no on both. Democrat Jared Golden&nbsp;voted against the obstruction charge but for abuse of power.

"The only part of the&nbsp;vote&nbsp;that was bipartisan was in opposition. The President is just getting stronger while support for the Democrats’ political theater has faded,"&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;campaign manager Brad Parscale said in a statement.

US&nbsp;Representative Tulsi Gabbard, a Democratic presidential candidate,&nbsp;voted present on both articles, declaring in a statement: "I could not in good conscience&nbsp;vote&nbsp;either yes or no."

Polarized Country

Trump's election has polarized the United States, dividing families and friends and making it more difficult for politicians in Washington to find middle ground as they try to confront pressing challenges like the rise of China and climate change.

The impeachment&nbsp;vote&nbsp;comes ahead of&nbsp;Trump's re-election campaign, which will pit him against the winner among a field of Democratic contenders, including Biden, who have repeatedly criticized&nbsp;Trump's conduct in office and promised to make it a key issue.

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President Trump abused his power, violated his oath of office, and betrayed our nation. This is a solemn moment for our country. But in the United States of America, no one is above the law — not even the President.
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) <a href="https://twitter.com/JoeBiden/status/1207479041256755201?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 19, 2019</a></blockquote>
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"President&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;abused his power, violated his oath of office, and betrayed our nation," Biden said on Twitter after the&nbsp;vote, adding: "In the United States of America, no one is above the law,&nbsp;not even the president."

Polls show that while most Democrats want to see him impeached, most Republicans do not. Televised hearings last month that were meant to build public support for impeachment appear to have pushed the two sides further apart.

The&nbsp;House&nbsp;vote&nbsp;on Wednesday was just the latest, but also unquestionably the biggest, in a string of controversies that have buffeted the turbulent presidency of the New York real estate mogul and former reality TV personality.

Central to the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/house-panel-approves-trump-charges-sets-up-impeachment-vote-268182">impeachment inquiry </a>was a July 25 telephone call in which&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;asked Zelenskiy to investigate Biden and his son Hunter Biden, who had joined the board of Ukrainian energy company Burisma while his father was&nbsp;US&nbsp;vice president.

Trump&nbsp;has accused the Bidens of corruption without offering evidence. They have denied wrongdoing.

A rough transcript of the call released by the White&nbsp;House&nbsp;showed&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;asking Zelenskiy, elected only three months earlier and eager for American support, to "do us a favor" and conduct the investigations in coordination with his personal lawyer <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/top-democrats-make-case-for-republicans-to-endorse-trump-impeachment-268418">Rudy Giuliani</a>.

Giuliani in the prior months had engaged in a concerted effort to persuade Ukraine to carry out the investigations. Testimony before&nbsp;House&nbsp;committees showed that Giuliani helped engineer&nbsp;Trump's removal last May of the&nbsp;US&nbsp;ambassador to Ukraine, who was perceived as a roadblock to those investigations.

Impeachment is a remedy devised by the United States' founders, wary of a monarch on American soil after breaking away from Britain and King George III in the 18th century, to enable Congress to remove a president who has committed "high crimes and misdemeanors."

Only two previous presidents have been impeached. The&nbsp;House&nbsp;in 1998 impeached President Bill Clinton on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice arising from a sexual relationship he had with a White&nbsp;House&nbsp;intern, but the Senate acquitted him. The&nbsp;House&nbsp;impeached President Andrew Johnson in 1868, focused on his removal of the secretary of war, but he was acquitted by one&nbsp;vote&nbsp;in the Senate.

In 1974, President Richard Nixon resigned after the&nbsp;House&nbsp;Judiciary Committee approved articles of impeachment in the Watergate corruption scandal but before the full&nbsp;House&nbsp;could pass them.

Donald Trump on Wednesday became the third US president to be impeached as the House of Representatives formally charged him with abuse of power and obstruction of Congress in a historic step that will inflame partisan tensions across a deeply divided America.

Donald Trump on Wednesday became the third US president to be impeached as the House of Representatives formally charged him with abuse of power and obstruction of Congress in a historic step that will inflame partisan tensions across a deeply divided America. Also Watch: Donald Trump impeached on two counts by US House × The Democratic-led House's passage of two articles of impeachment on a mostly party-line vote sets the stage for a trial next month in the Republican-controlled Senate, friendlier terrain for Trump, on whether to convict and remove him from office. No president in the 243-year history of the United States has been removed from office by impeachment. That would require a two-thirds majority in the 100-member Senate, meaning at least 20 Republicans would have to join Democrats in voting against Trump and none have indicated they will. The Senate's top Republican, Mitch McConnell, has predicted there is "no chance" his chamber will remove Trump when it holds its trial. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said after the vote she would wait to name the House managers, or prosecutors, until she knew more about the procedures for the Senate trial. She did not specify when she would send the articles to the Senate. "So far, we haven't seen anything that looks fair to us," Pelosi told reporters. Trump, 73, is accused of abusing his power by pressuring Ukraine to investigate political rival Joe Biden, a leading contender for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination, as well as a discredited theory that Democrats conspired with Ukraine to meddle in the 2016 election. Democrats said Trump held back $391 million in security aid intended to combat Russia-backed separatists and a coveted White House meeting for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy as leverage to coerce Kiev into interfering in the 2020 election by smearing Biden. The second article accused Trump of obstruction of Congress by directing administration officials and agencies not to comply with lawful House subpoenas for testimony and documents related to impeachment. Trump, who is seeking another four-year term in the November 2020 presidential election, has denied wrongdoing and called the impeachment inquiry launched by Pelosi in September a "witch hunt." At a raucous rally for his re-election in Battle Creek, Michigan, as the House voted, Trump said the impeachment would be a "mark of shame" for Democrats and Pelosi, and cost them in the 2020 election. "This lawless, partisan impeachment is a political suicide march for the Democrat Party," Trump said. "They're the ones who should be impeached, every one of them." Here to defend democracy During a daylong debate before the vote, Pelosi read the US Pledge of Allegiance and said: "We are here to defend democracy for the people." "If we do not act now, we would be derelict in our duty. It is tragic that the president's reckless actions make impeachment necessary," Pelosi said. Also Watch: Nancy Pelosi and Trump impeachment × As the debate unfolded, Republicans accused Democrats of seeking to use an unfair, rigged process to nullify the 2016 election and influence the 2020 vote. "The matter before the House today is based solely on a fundamental hatred of our president. It's a sham, a witch hunt and it's tantamount to a coup against the duly elected president of the United States," Republican Representative Mike Rogers said. Republican Representative Mike Kelly compared the impeachment to the Japanese attack on Hawaii's Pearl Harbor in 1941, calling the House proceedings another "date that will live in infamy", similar to the words Democratic President Franklin Roosevelt used to describe the raid that killed about 2,400 people and led to America's entry into World War Two. The abuse of power article was passed on a 230-197 vote and the obstruction article was passed 229-198. All of the House Republicans opposed the articles, and two Democrats, Collin Peterson and Jeff Van Drew, voted no on both. Democrat Jared Golden voted against the obstruction charge but for abuse of power. "The only part of the vote that was bipartisan was in opposition. The President is just getting stronger while support for the Democrats’ political theater has faded," Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale said in a statement. US Representative Tulsi Gabbard, a Democratic presidential candidate, voted present on both articles, declaring in a statement: "I could not in good conscience vote either yes or no." Polarized Country Trump's election has polarized the United States, dividing families and friends and making it more difficult for politicians in Washington to find middle ground as they try to confront pressing challenges like the rise of China and climate change. The impeachment vote comes ahead of Trump's re-election campaign, which will pit him against the winner among a field of Democratic contenders, including Biden, who have repeatedly criticized Trump's conduct in office and promised to make it a key issue. President Trump abused his power, violated his oath of office, and betrayed our nation. This is a solemn moment for our country. But in the United States of America, no one is above the law — not even the President. — Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) December 19, 2019 × "President Trump abused his power, violated his oath of office, and betrayed our nation," Biden said on Twitter after the vote, adding: "In the United States of America, no one is above the law, not even the president." Polls show that while most Democrats want to see him impeached, most Republicans do not. Televised hearings last month that were meant to build public support for impeachment appear to have pushed the two sides further apart. The House vote on Wednesday was just the latest, but also unquestionably the biggest, in a string of controversies that have buffeted the turbulent presidency of the New York real estate mogul and former reality TV personality. Central to the impeachment inquiry was a July 25 telephone call in which Trump asked Zelenskiy to investigate Biden and his son Hunter Biden, who had joined the board of Ukrainian energy company Burisma while his father was US vice president. Trump has accused the Bidens of corruption without offering evidence. They have denied wrongdoing. A rough transcript of the call released by the White House showed Trump asking Zelenskiy, elected only three months earlier and eager for American support, to "do us a favor" and conduct the investigations in coordination with his personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani. Giuliani in the prior months had engaged in a concerted effort to persuade Ukraine to carry out the investigations. Testimony before House committees showed that Giuliani helped engineer Trump's removal last May of the US ambassador to Ukraine, who was perceived as a roadblock to those investigations. Impeachment is a remedy devised by the United States' founders, wary of a monarch on American soil after breaking away from Britain and King George III in the 18th century, to enable Congress to remove a president who has committed "high crimes and misdemeanors." Only two previous presidents have been impeached. The House in 1998 impeached President Bill Clinton on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice arising from a sexual relationship he had with a White House intern, but the Senate acquitted him. The House impeached President Andrew Johnson in 1868, focused on his removal of the secretary of war, but he was acquitted by one vote in the Senate. In 1974, President Richard Nixon resigned after the House Judiciary Committee approved articles of impeachment in the Watergate corruption scandal but before the full House could pass them.

Divided US House impeaches President Donald Trump in historic vote

The American public is about evenly split over whether President Donald Trump should be impeached and removed from office. House of Representatives poised to vote on articles of impeachment this week. The impeachment vote in the House of Representatives will take place on December 18. #DonaldTrumpImpeachment #DonaldTrump #America

Americans remain divided on Donald Trump Impeachment

Democrats in the US&nbsp;House of Representatives will spend the weekend on Capitol Hill preparing for what could be the final week of their months-old impeachment inquiry that has imperiled <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/will-win-impeachment-fight-us-president-donald-trump-266504">Donald Trump's presidency</a>.

The House Judiciary Committee's Democratic lawmakers are due to meet on Saturday and Sunday behind closed doors to sift through evidence against the Republican president and draft formal charges, known as articles of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-has-abused-power-us-house-to-draft-impeachment-charges-against-him-nancy-pelosi-266490">impeachment</a>, that the panel could recommend for a full House vote as early as Thursday.

On Friday, the White House told committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler it would not take part in the panel's hearings and condemned the inquiry as "completely baseless."

Nadler expressed disappointment in a statement: "The American people deserve answers from President Trump."

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi directed the committee to draw up the charges on Thursday after weeks of investigation into Trump's request that Ukraine investigate former Vice President Joe Biden, a leading contender for the Democratic nomination to face the president in the 2020 US&nbsp;election.

Passage of formal charges in the Democratic-led House, now seen as all but certain, would lead to a trial in the Senate on whether to remove Trump from office. The Republicans who control the Senate have shown little sign of supporting Trump's removal.

While Trump has refused to cooperate with the House probe, he has made clear his lawyers will mount a defense in a Senate trial, where he believes he will prevail.

The Judiciary Committee is focused on two possible articles of impeachment that would accuse the president of abuse of power in his dealings with Ukraine and obstruction of Congress for refusing to cooperate with investigating committees.

Democrats also need to settle the question of whether to draft a third article alleging obstruction of justice based on former Special Counsel Robert Mueller's report on the federal investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.

"That's something that we'll decide this weekend," Representative Debbie Mucarsel-Powell told reporters on Friday.

The probe has focused on a July 25 telephone call in which Trump asked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to open an investigation into Biden and his son Hunter, and into a discredited theory promoted by Trump and his allies that Ukraine, not Russia, meddled in the 2016 election.

Hunter Biden joined the board of Ukrainian energy company Burisma while his father was vice president. Trump has accused the Bidens of corruption. They have denied wrongdoing and the allegations have not been substantiated.

Democrats also have accused Trump of abusing his power by withholding $391 million in security aid to Ukraine - a vulnerable US&nbsp;ally facing Russian aggression - and holding back a coveted White House meeting with Zelenskiy as leverage to pressure Kiev into investigating the Bidens.

The Judiciary Committee will hold a public hearing on Monday. Republicans have also called for a full day of proceedings to examine their own evidence, including a 110-page report saying the inquiry had found no evidence of an impeachable offense.

They have presented their own list of requested witnesses, including Hunter Biden and the anonymous whistleblower whose complaint sparked the impeachment inquiry. Nadler is considered unlikely to call them to testify.

Trump is the fourth US&nbsp;president to face impeachment proceedings. None were removed from office, although Richard Nixon resigned as he faced almost certain impeachment in 1974 over the Watergate scandal. 
&nbsp;

Democrats in the US House of Representatives will spend the weekend on Capitol Hill preparing for what could be the final week of their months-old impeachment inquiry that has imperiled Donald Trump's presidency.

Democrats in the US House of Representatives will spend the weekend on Capitol Hill preparing for what could be the final week of their months-old impeachment inquiry that has imperiled Donald Trump's presidency. The House Judiciary Committee's Democratic lawmakers are due to meet on Saturday and Sunday behind closed doors to sift through evidence against the Republican president and draft formal charges, known as articles of impeachment, that the panel could recommend for a full House vote as early as Thursday. On Friday, the White House told committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler it would not take part in the panel's hearings and condemned the inquiry as "completely baseless." Nadler expressed disappointment in a statement: "The American people deserve answers from President Trump." House Speaker Nancy Pelosi directed the committee to draw up the charges on Thursday after weeks of investigation into Trump's request that Ukraine investigate former Vice President Joe Biden, a leading contender for the Democratic nomination to face the president in the 2020 US election. Passage of formal charges in the Democratic-led House, now seen as all but certain, would lead to a trial in the Senate on whether to remove Trump from office. The Republicans who control the Senate have shown little sign of supporting Trump's removal. While Trump has refused to cooperate with the House probe, he has made clear his lawyers will mount a defense in a Senate trial, where he believes he will prevail. The Judiciary Committee is focused on two possible articles of impeachment that would accuse the president of abuse of power in his dealings with Ukraine and obstruction of Congress for refusing to cooperate with investigating committees. Democrats also need to settle the question of whether to draft a third article alleging obstruction of justice based on former Special Counsel Robert Mueller's report on the federal investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. "That's something that we'll decide this weekend," Representative Debbie Mucarsel-Powell told reporters on Friday. The probe has focused on a July 25 telephone call in which Trump asked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to open an investigation into Biden and his son Hunter, and into a discredited theory promoted by Trump and his allies that Ukraine, not Russia, meddled in the 2016 election. Hunter Biden joined the board of Ukrainian energy company Burisma while his father was vice president. Trump has accused the Bidens of corruption. They have denied wrongdoing and the allegations have not been substantiated. Democrats also have accused Trump of abusing his power by withholding $391 million in security aid to Ukraine - a vulnerable US ally facing Russian aggression - and holding back a coveted White House meeting with Zelenskiy as leverage to pressure Kiev into investigating the Bidens. The Judiciary Committee will hold a public hearing on Monday. Republicans have also called for a full day of proceedings to examine their own evidence, including a 110-page report saying the inquiry had found no evidence of an impeachable offense. They have presented their own list of requested witnesses, including Hunter Biden and the anonymous whistleblower whose complaint sparked the impeachment inquiry. Nadler is considered unlikely to call them to testify. Trump is the fourth US president to face impeachment proceedings. None were removed from office, although Richard Nixon resigned as he faced almost certain impeachment in 1974 over the Watergate scandal.

Democrats to spend weekend drafting impeachment charges against Donald Trump

Democratic lawmakers in Congress will take a big step this week in what appears to be a now inexorable march toward <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/how-does-the-impeachment-of-a-us-president-work-265766">impeaching </a>US&nbsp;President Donald Trump, with the start of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-impeachment-congressional-panel-to-begin-drawing-up-charges-against-us-president-265633">hearings </a>seen as a precursor to formal charges being announced within weeks.

As opinion polls show Americans bitterly divided over whether to impeach Trump, the Judiciary Committee in the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives will hold a hearing on Wednesday to explain to the public what constitutes an impeachable offence.

It will also receive a report from the House Intelligence Committee laying out the evidence Democrats say shows Trump abused his office for personal political gain.

Democrats have been looking into the Republican president's efforts to pressure Ukraine to investigate political rival Joe Biden, a former Democratic vice president who is seeking his party's nomination to face Trump in the 2020 presidential election, and his son Hunter Biden, who was a board member of a Ukrainian energy company.

The impeachment inquiry has heard testimony from current and former officials that military aid was withheld from Ukraine and that a White House meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy was conditioned on investigations into the Bidens and a debunked conspiracy theory about interference in the 2016 US&nbsp;election being carried out.

Trump has denied any wrongdoing and says a July 25 phone call with Zelenskiy, in which he pressed for the probes, was "perfect." He and fellow Republicans say Democrats are seeking to overturn the will of the people in the 2016 presidential election.

The judiciary panel will hear public testimony from four legal scholars on what constitutional basis a US&nbsp;president can be removed from office.

In a defiant response on Sunday night, the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/white-house-says-it-will-refuse-to-take-part-in-impeachment-hearing-265629">White House </a>informed Democrats that Trump and his lawyers would not participate in Wednesday's hearing, citing a lack of "fundamental fairness."

Speaking to reporters as he departed the White House on Monday en route to London for a NATO summit, Trump said he had declined to participate in the hearing because it was a hoax.

The proceedings would have been the first direct involvement by the Trump camp in the process.

But White House counsel Pat Cipollone has not ruled out taking part in future proceedings if Democrats addressed a list of procedural complaints.

The committee, which is not expected to consider evidence against Trump until next week, has given the president until 5 pm&nbsp;(2200 GMT) on Friday to say whether he plans to mount a defence by calling witnesses and introducing evidence.

Deepening divide

The Republican-controlled Senate, where any impeachment trial would be held, is highly unlikely to vote to oust Trump. Few Senate Republicans have shown an appetite for removing the president.

But the impeachment inquiry has cast a shadow over Trump's already tumultuous presidency and sharpened a divide among Americans that is likely to intensify as election campaigning heats up in the coming weeks.

"We're on an exercise with a very predictable outcome and one that's going to divide the country further. It'll be a live issue through the election itself, and the American people will make the final determination," Republican Representative Tom Cole told Reuters.

Wednesday's hearing, while academic in nature, will set the stage for the Judiciary Committee to begin determining whether Trump should face formal articles of impeachment. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said in a letter to supporters last week that Trump had committed "bribery" and needed to be held accountable.

"Impeachment is the people's last line of self-defence against a president who insists upon acting like a king and trampling the rule of law," said Representative Jamie Raskin, a Democrat on the Judiciary Committee.

"We've had an intensive focus over the last several weeks on the facts," Raskin said in an interview. "We are now about to revisit the basic values and structures of the American Constitution."

Democratic aides said a vote on possible articles of impeachment would follow quickly on the heels of an evidentiary hearing.

Democratic lawmakers in Congress will take a big step this week in what appears to be a now inexorable march toward impeaching US President Donald Trump, with the start of hearings seen as a precursor to formal charges being announced within weeks.

Democratic lawmakers in Congress will take a big step this week in what appears to be a now inexorable march toward impeaching US President Donald Trump, with the start of hearings seen as a precursor to formal charges being announced within weeks. As opinion polls show Americans bitterly divided over whether to impeach Trump, the Judiciary Committee in the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives will hold a hearing on Wednesday to explain to the public what constitutes an impeachable offence. It will also receive a report from the House Intelligence Committee laying out the evidence Democrats say shows Trump abused his office for personal political gain. Democrats have been looking into the Republican president's efforts to pressure Ukraine to investigate political rival Joe Biden, a former Democratic vice president who is seeking his party's nomination to face Trump in the 2020 presidential election, and his son Hunter Biden, who was a board member of a Ukrainian energy company. The impeachment inquiry has heard testimony from current and former officials that military aid was withheld from Ukraine and that a White House meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy was conditioned on investigations into the Bidens and a debunked conspiracy theory about interference in the 2016 US election being carried out. Trump has denied any wrongdoing and says a July 25 phone call with Zelenskiy, in which he pressed for the probes, was "perfect." He and fellow Republicans say Democrats are seeking to overturn the will of the people in the 2016 presidential election. The judiciary panel will hear public testimony from four legal scholars on what constitutional basis a US president can be removed from office. In a defiant response on Sunday night, the White House informed Democrats that Trump and his lawyers would not participate in Wednesday's hearing, citing a lack of "fundamental fairness." Speaking to reporters as he departed the White House on Monday en route to London for a NATO summit, Trump said he had declined to participate in the hearing because it was a hoax. The proceedings would have been the first direct involvement by the Trump camp in the process. But White House counsel Pat Cipollone has not ruled out taking part in future proceedings if Democrats addressed a list of procedural complaints. The committee, which is not expected to consider evidence against Trump until next week, has given the president until 5 pm (2200 GMT) on Friday to say whether he plans to mount a defence by calling witnesses and introducing evidence. Deepening divide The Republican-controlled Senate, where any impeachment trial would be held, is highly unlikely to vote to oust Trump. Few Senate Republicans have shown an appetite for removing the president. But the impeachment inquiry has cast a shadow over Trump's already tumultuous presidency and sharpened a divide among Americans that is likely to intensify as election campaigning heats up in the coming weeks. "We're on an exercise with a very predictable outcome and one that's going to divide the country further. It'll be a live issue through the election itself, and the American people will make the final determination," Republican Representative Tom Cole told Reuters. Wednesday's hearing, while academic in nature, will set the stage for the Judiciary Committee to begin determining whether Trump should face formal articles of impeachment. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said in a letter to supporters last week that Trump had committed "bribery" and needed to be held accountable. "Impeachment is the people's last line of self-defence against a president who insists upon acting like a king and trampling the rule of law," said Representative Jamie Raskin, a Democrat on the Judiciary Committee. "We've had an intensive focus over the last several weeks on the facts," Raskin said in an interview. "We are now about to revisit the basic values and structures of the American Constitution." Democratic aides said a vote on possible articles of impeachment would follow quickly on the heels of an evidentiary hearing.

US Democrats set the stage for Trump impeachment with key hearing

The US House of Representatives Judiciary Committee is scheduled to hold its first impeachment hearing on December 4, starting a new phase of the inquiry that could lead to formal charges against President Donald Trump within weeks.

The following explains the basics of impeachment, what happens next, and why Trump is unlikely to be removed from office. 
&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; 
Why Impeachment?

The founders of the United States feared presidents abusing their powers, so they included in the Constitution a process for removing one from office.

The president, under the Constitution, can be removed from office for "Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors." 
 
High crimes and misdemeanours has historically encompassed corruption and abuses of the public trust, as opposed to just indictable violations of criminal statutes.

Former President Gerald Ford, while in Congress, famously said: "An impeachable offence is whatever a majority of the House of Representatives considers it to be at a given moment in history."

No president has ever been removed as a direct result of impeachment. One, Richard Nixon, resigned before he could be removed. Two, Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton, were impeached by the House but not convicted by the Senate. 
&nbsp; &nbsp; 
How does it work?

Impeachment begins in the House, the lower chamber, which debates and votes on whether to bring charges against the president via approval of an impeachment resolution, or "articles of impeachment," by a simple majority of the body`s members.

The Constitution gives House leaders wide latitude in deciding how to conduct impeachment proceedings, legal experts said.

The House Intelligence Committee has conducted an investigation into whether Trump abused his power to pressure Ukraine to launch investigations that would benefit him politically, holding weeks of closed-door testimony and televised hearings. The panel is expected to release a formal evidence report shortly after lawmakers return to Congress on Dec. 3 from their Thanksgiving recess.

The Judiciary panel will use the report to consider formal charges that could form the basis of a full House impeachment vote by the end of December.

If the House approves articles of impeachment, a trial is then held in the Senate. House members act as the prosecutors; the senators as jurors; the chief justice of the Supreme Court presides. Historically, the president has been allowed to have defence lawyers call witnesses and request documents.

Can the Senate refuse to hold a trial?

There is debate about whether the Constitution requires a Senate trial. But Senate rules currently in effect require a trial, and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has publicly stated that he will allow one to proceed.

Republicans could seek to amend those rules, but such a move is politically risky and considered unlikely, legal experts said.

What about opening a trial and quickly ending it?

The Senate rules allow members to file, before the conclusion of the trial, motions to dismiss the charges against the president. If such a motion passes by a simple majority the impeachment proceedings effectively end.

Clinton`s Senate impeachment trial, which did not end in a conviction, lasted five weeks. Halfway through the proceedings, a Democratic senator introduced a motion to dismiss, which was voted down.

What's the party breakdown in Congress?

The House comprises 431 members, 233 of whom are Democrats. As a result, the Democrats could impeach Trump with no Republican support.

In 1998, when Republicans had a House majority, the chamber voted largely along party lines to impeach Clinton, a Democrat.

The Senate now has 53 Republicans, 45 Democrats and two independents who usually vote with the Democrats. Conviction and removal of a president would require a two-thirds majority. So, for Trump to be removed from office via impeachment, in the case of all 100 senators voting, at least 20 Republicans and all the Democrats and independents would have to vote against him. 
&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; 
Who becomes the President if Trump is removed?

In the unlikely event the Senate convicted Trump, Vice President Mike Pence would become president for the remainder of Trump's term, which ends on January 20, 2021. 
 
(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL) &nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

The US House of Representatives Judiciary Committee is scheduled to hold its first impeachment hearing on December 4, starting a new phase of the inquiry that could lead to formal charges against President Donald Trump within weeks.

The US House of Representatives Judiciary Committee is scheduled to hold its first impeachment hearing on December 4, starting a new phase of the inquiry that could lead to formal charges against President Donald Trump within weeks. The following explains the basics of impeachment, what happens next, and why Trump is unlikely to be removed from office. Why Impeachment? The founders of the United States feared presidents abusing their powers, so they included in the Constitution a process for removing one from office. The president, under the Constitution, can be removed from office for "Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors." High crimes and misdemeanours has historically encompassed corruption and abuses of the public trust, as opposed to just indictable violations of criminal statutes. Former President Gerald Ford, while in Congress, famously said: "An impeachable offence is whatever a majority of the House of Representatives considers it to be at a given moment in history." No president has ever been removed as a direct result of impeachment. One, Richard Nixon, resigned before he could be removed. Two, Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton, were impeached by the House but not convicted by the Senate. How does it work? Impeachment begins in the House, the lower chamber, which debates and votes on whether to bring charges against the president via approval of an impeachment resolution, or "articles of impeachment," by a simple majority of the body`s members. The Constitution gives House leaders wide latitude in deciding how to conduct impeachment proceedings, legal experts said. The House Intelligence Committee has conducted an investigation into whether Trump abused his power to pressure Ukraine to launch investigations that would benefit him politically, holding weeks of closed-door testimony and televised hearings. The panel is expected to release a formal evidence report shortly after lawmakers return to Congress on Dec. 3 from their Thanksgiving recess. The Judiciary panel will use the report to consider formal charges that could form the basis of a full House impeachment vote by the end of December. If the House approves articles of impeachment, a trial is then held in the Senate. House members act as the prosecutors; the senators as jurors; the chief justice of the Supreme Court presides. Historically, the president has been allowed to have defence lawyers call witnesses and request documents. Can the Senate refuse to hold a trial? There is debate about whether the Constitution requires a Senate trial. But Senate rules currently in effect require a trial, and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has publicly stated that he will allow one to proceed. Republicans could seek to amend those rules, but such a move is politically risky and considered unlikely, legal experts said. What about opening a trial and quickly ending it? The Senate rules allow members to file, before the conclusion of the trial, motions to dismiss the charges against the president. If such a motion passes by a simple majority the impeachment proceedings effectively end. Clinton`s Senate impeachment trial, which did not end in a conviction, lasted five weeks. Halfway through the proceedings, a Democratic senator introduced a motion to dismiss, which was voted down. What's the party breakdown in Congress? The House comprises 431 members, 233 of whom are Democrats. As a result, the Democrats could impeach Trump with no Republican support. In 1998, when Republicans had a House majority, the chamber voted largely along party lines to impeach Clinton, a Democrat. The Senate now has 53 Republicans, 45 Democrats and two independents who usually vote with the Democrats. Conviction and removal of a president would require a two-thirds majority. So, for Trump to be removed from office via impeachment, in the case of all 100 senators voting, at least 20 Republicans and all the Democrats and independents would have to vote against him. Who becomes the President if Trump is removed? In the unlikely event the Senate convicted Trump, Vice President Mike Pence would become president for the remainder of Trump's term, which ends on January 20, 2021. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

How does the impeachment of a US President work?

In what can be described as the biggest challenge Donald Trump's presidency, public hearings of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-faces-perilous-test-as-impeachment-hearings-open-261230">impeachment</a> probe against him will be telecast from the US House of Representatives on Wednesday.

The Democrats intent&nbsp;to prove that the US president abused his office by seeking the help of his Ukrainian counterpart for finding dirt on his Democratic rival Joe Biden. Trump has denied any wrongdoing and described the inquiry as "corrupt" and "illegal".

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
....This is a phony showtrial. There is zero due process, none. It is yet another fraudulent hoax conspiracy theory. It is another Witch Hunt. This is what the Socialist Doemocrat Party has become. There’s not one thing the Democrats have done in the past 3 years except try...
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1194458299720175616?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 13, 2019</a></blockquote>
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In the US history, only two presidents have so far been impeached: Andrew Johnson in 1868 and Bill Clinton in 1998. However, neither of the two presidents was convicted and removed. But, in 1974, Richard Nixon resigned as the US president after the demand of impeachment rose because of the Watergate scandal.

House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, who will lead the hearings, told NPR radio on Tuesday that as per witnesses statements, Trump can be impeached in a number of 'impeachable' offences such as bribery, high crimes and misdemeanours, reports AFP.&nbsp;

The impeachment hearings are expected to be fiery as many government officials decided to testify on Trump's Ukraine machinations during the middle of 2019. There will be no holds barred from both Republicans and Democrats also because the US is nearly a year away from presidential elections and any setback by either of the parties may impact the outcome of the elections.&nbsp;

Latest polls show that Americans who are favouring impeachment of the president are holding a slim majority. However, the polls also reflect that a big chunk of voters that made Trump victorious in 2016 are still backing the president and are against the impeachment.&nbsp;

The witnesses to testify to Wednesday are William Taylor, the acting ambassador in Kyiv and George Kent, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs. The former Ukraine envoy Marie Yovanovitch will testify on Friday.&nbsp;

After the impeachment inquiry is completed, the House which has a majority of Democrats, will vote. A simple majority is required in order to impeach Trump. If the US president gets impeached, the proceedings will move to the Senate and two-third of all majority will be required for removing Trump from the office.&nbsp;

The Democrats accuse Trump of pressurising Ukrainian&nbsp;President Volodymyr Zelensky to find dirt on Biden and investigate 2016 election tampering. The main evidence is the official White House transcript of phone call on July 25 showing Trump asking the Ukrainian president to open a probe into Biden and the 2016 conspiracy theory.

On Tuesday, the Democrats announced the schedule for public testimony next week by eight more witnesses, all of whom previously testified behind closed doors.

The Republicans accuse Democrats of including witnesses that are biased against Trump. The Republicans also tried to shift focus on Biden's link to Ukraine&nbsp;and that Ukraine helped Democrats in the last presidential elections in the US.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

In what can be described as the biggest challenge Donald Trump's presidency, public hearings of the impeachment probe against him will be telecast from the US House of Representatives on Wednesday.

In what can be described as the biggest challenge Donald Trump's presidency, public hearings of the impeachment probe against him will be telecast from the US House of Representatives on Wednesday. The Democrats intent to prove that the US president abused his office by seeking the help of his Ukrainian counterpart for finding dirt on his Democratic rival Joe Biden. Trump has denied any wrongdoing and described the inquiry as "corrupt" and "illegal". ....This is a phony showtrial. There is zero due process, none. It is yet another fraudulent hoax conspiracy theory. It is another Witch Hunt. This is what the Socialist Doemocrat Party has become. There’s not one thing the Democrats have done in the past 3 years except try... — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 13, 2019 × In the US history, only two presidents have so far been impeached: Andrew Johnson in 1868 and Bill Clinton in 1998. However, neither of the two presidents was convicted and removed. But, in 1974, Richard Nixon resigned as the US president after the demand of impeachment rose because of the Watergate scandal. House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, who will lead the hearings, told NPR radio on Tuesday that as per witnesses statements, Trump can be impeached in a number of 'impeachable' offences such as bribery, high crimes and misdemeanours, reports AFP. The impeachment hearings are expected to be fiery as many government officials decided to testify on Trump's Ukraine machinations during the middle of 2019. There will be no holds barred from both Republicans and Democrats also because the US is nearly a year away from presidential elections and any setback by either of the parties may impact the outcome of the elections. Latest polls show that Americans who are favouring impeachment of the president are holding a slim majority. However, the polls also reflect that a big chunk of voters that made Trump victorious in 2016 are still backing the president and are against the impeachment. The witnesses to testify to Wednesday are William Taylor, the acting ambassador in Kyiv and George Kent, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs. The former Ukraine envoy Marie Yovanovitch will testify on Friday. After the impeachment inquiry is completed, the House which has a majority of Democrats, will vote. A simple majority is required in order to impeach Trump. If the US president gets impeached, the proceedings will move to the Senate and two-third of all majority will be required for removing Trump from the office. The Democrats accuse Trump of pressurising Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to find dirt on Biden and investigate 2016 election tampering. The main evidence is the official White House transcript of phone call on July 25 showing Trump asking the Ukrainian president to open a probe into Biden and the 2016 conspiracy theory. On Tuesday, the Democrats announced the schedule for public testimony next week by eight more witnesses, all of whom previously testified behind closed doors. The Republicans accuse Democrats of including witnesses that are biased against Trump. The Republicans also tried to shift focus on Biden's link to Ukraine and that Ukraine helped Democrats in the last presidential elections in the US.

Fierce proceedings expected as impeachment testimony against Donald Trump set to telecast today

Lev Parnas, an indicted Ukrainian-American businessman who has ties to President Donald Trump's personal lawyer,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/giuliani-says-trump-did-not-pay-for-his-push-for-biden-probe-252746">Rudy Giuliani</a>, is now prepared to comply with requests for records and testimony from congressional impeachment investigators, his lawyer told Reuters on Monday.

Parnas, who helped Giuliani look for dirt on Trump's political rival, former Vice President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-must-investigate-joe-bidens-son-ex-ukrainian-pm-252662">Joe Biden</a>, is a key figure in the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/house-to-formalise-donald-trump-impeachment-investigation-259008">impeachment enquiry</a> that is examining whether Trump abused his office for personal political gain.

His apparent decision to work with the congressional committees represents a change of heart. Parnas rebuffed a request from three House of Representatives committees last month to provide documents and testimony.

“We will honour and not avoid the committee’s requests to the extent they are legally proper, while scrupulously protecting Mr Parnas’ privileges including that of the Fifth Amendment,” said the lawyer, Joseph Bondy, referring to his client's constitutional right to avoid self-incrimination.

Giuliani did not immediately respond to requests for comment. On Capitol Hill, the House leadership and a spokesperson for the House Intelligence Committee declined to comment.

His previous lawyer, John Dowd, wrote to the committees in early October complaining that their requests for documents were “overly broad and unduly burdensome.”

Parnas pleaded not guilty in Manhattan federal court last month to being part of a scheme that used a shell company to donate money to a pro-Trump election committee and illegally raise money for a former congressman as part of an effort to have the president remove the US&nbsp;ambassador to Ukraine.

The indictment does not address the issues involved in the impeachment inquiry.

Parnas would be a crucial witness if he were to cooperate. He has said he played a key role in connecting Giuliani to Ukrainian officials during Giuliani's investigation into Biden and his son Hunter.

Trump's request to Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelensky, in a July 25 phone call to investigate the Bidens was at the heart of a whistleblower complaint by an intelligence officer that sparked the Democratic-led impeachment inquiry on September&nbsp;24.

Lev Parnas, an indicted Ukrainian-American businessman who has ties to President Donald Trump's personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, is now prepared to comply with requests for records and testimony from congressional impeachment investigators, his lawyer told Reuters on Monday.

Lev Parnas, an indicted Ukrainian-American businessman who has ties to President Donald Trump's personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, is now prepared to comply with requests for records and testimony from congressional impeachment investigators, his lawyer told Reuters on Monday. Parnas, who helped Giuliani look for dirt on Trump's political rival, former Vice President Joe Biden, is a key figure in the impeachment enquiry that is examining whether Trump abused his office for personal political gain. His apparent decision to work with the congressional committees represents a change of heart. Parnas rebuffed a request from three House of Representatives committees last month to provide documents and testimony. “We will honour and not avoid the committee’s requests to the extent they are legally proper, while scrupulously protecting Mr Parnas’ privileges including that of the Fifth Amendment,” said the lawyer, Joseph Bondy, referring to his client's constitutional right to avoid self-incrimination. Giuliani did not immediately respond to requests for comment. On Capitol Hill, the House leadership and a spokesperson for the House Intelligence Committee declined to comment. His previous lawyer, John Dowd, wrote to the committees in early October complaining that their requests for documents were “overly broad and unduly burdensome.” Parnas pleaded not guilty in Manhattan federal court last month to being part of a scheme that used a shell company to donate money to a pro-Trump election committee and illegally raise money for a former congressman as part of an effort to have the president remove the US ambassador to Ukraine. The indictment does not address the issues involved in the impeachment inquiry. Parnas would be a crucial witness if he were to cooperate. He has said he played a key role in connecting Giuliani to Ukrainian officials during Giuliani's investigation into Biden and his son Hunter. Trump's request to Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelensky, in a July 25 phone call to investigate the Bidens was at the heart of a whistleblower complaint by an intelligence officer that sparked the Democratic-led impeachment inquiry on September 24.

Rudy Giuliani's associate Lev Parnas will comply with Trump impeachment enquiry

House to formalise Trump impeachment investigation. Watch video to know more.

House to formalise Trump impeachment investigation

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