The Philippines has entered a major political chapter as 23 senators were formally sworn in as judges for the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte. The proceedings are expected to draw national attention, with lawmakers set to examine allegations and evidence in a case that could have significant implications for the country's political landscape and leadership ahead of future elections.


Sara Duterte impeachment trial: Accusations involve misuse of government funds & bribery

While the former reality TV star <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a> has faced immense criticism, several allegations and two impeachment trials, turns out he is still the number one choice for the US election 2024.

A recent poll conducted by Politico-Morning Consult revealed that Trump's popularity within the Republican Party has not decreased even after impeachment trials.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/unsmiling-political-hack-trump-lashes-out-at-mitch-mcconnell-after-impeachment-trial-364141">'Unsmiling political hack': Trump lashes out at Mitch McConnell</a>

As per the poll, which was released three days after Trump's acquittal in his second impeachment trial, 59 per cent of Republicans said they would happily support the former US President to play a prominent role in their Republican Party.

Further, 54 per cent of Republicans said they would like to support Trump in a hypothetical 2024 presidential primary election. This number is the same as the amount of Republicans who wanted to show support to the defeated leader back in November. However, the number had taken a dip after the Capitol riot that took place on January 06 and were organised by Trump's supporters.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/republican-accused-of-joining-devils-army-for-voting-to-impeach-donald-trump-364108" hreflang="en">Republican accused of joining 'devil's army' for voting to impeach Donald Trump</a>

Till now, Trump has not given a clear message about whether or not he would be returning for the presidential elections in 2024. However, it was being assumed that his chances of being the favoured candidate would have taken a dip within his party. This poll has shown otherwise.

Surprisingly, after Trump's acquittal, the number of people in the party who think he should play a major role in the Republican party has increased by 18 per cent.

It was also observed that before the trials, more Republicans thought that Trump was personally responsible for the Capitol riots.

Between January 06 and 07, 76 per cent of Republicans thought it was rioters fault and 41 per cent believed Trump was responsible too. However, between February 14 and 15, the figures changed and only 27 per cent of Republicans believed that Trump had a hand in the Capitol riots and 85 per cent of party members blamed the rioters.&nbsp;

While the former reality TV star Donald Trump has faced immense criticism, several allegations and two impeachment trials, turns out he is still the number one choice for the US election 2024.

While the former reality TV star Donald Trump has faced immense criticism, several allegations and two impeachment trials, turns out he is still the number one choice for the US election 2024. A recent poll conducted by Politico-Morning Consult revealed that Trump's popularity within the Republican Party has not decreased even after impeachment trials. Also read| 'Unsmiling political hack': Trump lashes out at Mitch McConnell As per the poll, which was released three days after Trump's acquittal in his second impeachment trial, 59 per cent of Republicans said they would happily support the former US President to play a prominent role in their Republican Party. Further, 54 per cent of Republicans said they would like to support Trump in a hypothetical 2024 presidential primary election. This number is the same as the amount of Republicans who wanted to show support to the defeated leader back in November. However, the number had taken a dip after the Capitol riot that took place on January 06 and were organised by Trump's supporters. Also read| Republican accused of joining 'devil's army' for voting to impeach Donald Trump Till now, Trump has not given a clear message about whether or not he would be returning for the presidential elections in 2024. However, it was being assumed that his chances of being the favoured candidate would have taken a dip within his party. This poll has shown otherwise. Surprisingly, after Trump's acquittal, the number of people in the party who think he should play a major role in the Republican party has increased by 18 per cent. It was also observed that before the trials, more Republicans thought that Trump was personally responsible for the Capitol riots. Between January 06 and 07, 76 per cent of Republicans thought it was rioters fault and 41 per cent believed Trump was responsible too. However, between February 14 and 15, the figures changed and only 27 per cent of Republicans believed that Trump had a hand in the Capitol riots and 85 per cent of party members blamed the rioters.

Donald Trump preferred candidate for 2024 presidential election: Poll

The former US President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>, who has recently been acquitted in his second impeachment trial, has turned against the Senate minority leader, Mitch McConnell.

Taking about the impeachment trial, McConnell said Trump was "practically and morally responsible" for the US Capitol riots.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/independent-911-style-commission-needed-to-investigate-trump-and-capitol-riots-pelosi-363900" hreflang="en">'Independent, 9/11-style commission' needed to investigate Trump and Capitol riots: Pelosi</a>

"There is no question former President Trump bears moral responsibility," McConnell wrote in an op-ed for Wall Street Journal on Monday. "His supporters stormed the Capitol because of the unhinged falsehoods he shouted into the world's largest megaphone. His behavior during and after the chaos was also unconscionable, from attacking Vice President Mike Pence during the riot to praising the criminals after it ended."

This has angered Trump, who is known to be a sore loser. "The Republican Party can never again be respected or strong with political ‘leaders’ like Sen. Mitch McConnell at its helm," he said in a statement released by his political action committee.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/toings-froings-and-kerfuffle-uk-pm-boris-johnson-reacts-to-trumps-impeachment-trial-363685" hreflang="en">'Toings, froings and kerfuffle': UK PM Boris Johnson reacts to Trump's impeachment trial</a>

The defeated former President did not stop at that, and continued name-calling McConnell — one of the many things he is infamous for.&nbsp;

"Mitch is a dour, sullen, and unsmiling political hack, and if Republican Senators are going to stay with him, they will not win again," he said in his statement. "He will never do what needs to be done, or what is right for our Country. Where necessary and appropriate, I will back primary rivals who espouse Making America Great Again and our policy of America First. We want brilliant, strong, thoughtful, and compassionate leadership."

Calling him a 'third rate' leader, Trump said he regrets supporting McConnell when he 'begged' for help in Kentucky during the US election 2020.

"This is a big moment for our country, and we cannot let it pass by using third rate 'leaders' to dictate our future!," Trump said.

The former US President Donald Trump, who has recently been acquitted in his second impeachment trial, has turned against the Senate minority leader, Mitch McConnell.

The former US President Donald Trump, who has recently been acquitted in his second impeachment trial, has turned against the Senate minority leader, Mitch McConnell. Taking about the impeachment trial, McConnell said Trump was "practically and morally responsible" for the US Capitol riots. Also read| 'Independent, 9/11-style commission' needed to investigate Trump and Capitol riots: Pelosi "There is no question former President Trump bears moral responsibility," McConnell wrote in an op-ed for Wall Street Journal on Monday. "His supporters stormed the Capitol because of the unhinged falsehoods he shouted into the world's largest megaphone. His behavior during and after the chaos was also unconscionable, from attacking Vice President Mike Pence during the riot to praising the criminals after it ended." This has angered Trump, who is known to be a sore loser. "The Republican Party can never again be respected or strong with political ‘leaders’ like Sen. Mitch McConnell at its helm," he said in a statement released by his political action committee. Also read| 'Toings, froings and kerfuffle': UK PM Boris Johnson reacts to Trump's impeachment trial The defeated former President did not stop at that, and continued name-calling McConnell — one of the many things he is infamous for. "Mitch is a dour, sullen, and unsmiling political hack, and if Republican Senators are going to stay with him, they will not win again," he said in his statement. "He will never do what needs to be done, or what is right for our Country. Where necessary and appropriate, I will back primary rivals who espouse Making America Great Again and our policy of America First. We want brilliant, strong, thoughtful, and compassionate leadership." Calling him a 'third rate' leader, Trump said he regrets supporting McConnell when he 'begged' for help in Kentucky during the US election 2020. "This is a big moment for our country, and we cannot let it pass by using third rate 'leaders' to dictate our future!," Trump said.

'Unsmiling political hack': Trump lashes out at Mitch McConnell after impeachment trial

Donald Trump has survived the second impeachment trial in the senate. Ending democratic efforts to hold the former president accountable for the deadly capitol hill riots. US senate acquitted him on the charge of incitement of insurrection.

US senate acquits Donald Trump of inciting Capitol hill riots

The second day of the impeachment trial was dominated by presenting harrowing audio and visual evidence. Democrats claimed and alleged that Donald Trump's loyalists were on a mission to kill House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Former-Vice President Mike Pence.

United States: Prosecutors trace Donald Trump's inflammatory rhetoric

The impeachment trial of US' Former President Donald Trump has begun. Senate has declared it constitutional on the very first day. By a vote of 56 to 44, the Senate rejected arguments by Trump's attorneys, who asserted that holding an impeachment trial of a former president is unconstitutional.

US: Impeachment trial of Ex-President Trump begins

Preparations for Donald Trump's impeachment trial begin in US

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

Former President Donald Trump and the Republican Party entered this year having stockpiled more than $175 million from fundraising in November and December based on his false claims of voter fraud, spending only a tiny fraction on lawyers and bills for his effort to overturn the presidential election, according to new campaign finance reports filed Sunday night.

The picture that emerges in the new Federal Election Commission reports is of Trump mounting a furious public relations effort to spread the lie and keep generating money from it, rather than making a sustained legal push to try to support his conspiracy theories.

His campaign’s single biggest expense in December was a nearly $5 million media buy paid to the firm that bought his television advertisements. His second-largest payment, $4.4 million, was for online advertising. And the Republican National Committee pocketed millions of dollars in donations — collecting 25 cents for every dollar Trump raised online — in the final weeks of the year as it spent relatively little on legal costs.

All told, Trump’s campaign spent only $10 million on legal costs — about one-fifth of what it spent on advertising and fundraising, according to an analysis of Federal Election Commission filings from Nov. 4 through the end of the year.

During that period, Trump’s conspiracy-fueled accusations that votes had been miscounted or misappropriated repeatedly fell flat in the courts. Joe Biden was elected president by voters on Nov. 3, confirmed by the Electoral College on Dec. 14 and ratified by Congress on Jan. 6 — the same day that Trump incited a mob that stormed the Capitol.

But while Trump’s efforts to delegitimize the election did not keep him in power, they did spur millions in contributions from loyal supporters and provided both him and the party with an enormous infusion of cash.

The Republican National Committee ended the year with more than $80 million in the bank after the fundraising blitz, and Trump had $31 million in the new political action committee he formed in November for his post-presidential political ventures.

That accounts for just some of their haul. The party and the former president had roughly $63 million more in two shared accounts waiting to be distributed between them, with Trump’s PAC entitled to 75% of the money raised in December, giving him an estimated $70 million PAC war chest.

Most of the money appears to have come online and from smaller contributors, with relatively few five- and six-figure checks, especially once the calendar turned to December. One $100,000 check in early December came from Elaine J. Wold, a major Republican donor in Florida.

Though his race was over, Trump’s voracious online fundraising from Nov. 24 through the end of the year even outpaced that of the two Republican senators, Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue, who were competing in the Georgia runoff elections that would determine control of the chamber.

During those 39 days, Trump and his shared committees with the RNC raised $80 million online; Loeffler and Perdue combined for closer to $75 million. Both lost.

Trump did incur some legal costs from more than a dozen law firms.

He paid $1.6 million to Kasowitz Benson Torres, more than $500,000 to Jones Day and about $600,000 to Dechert. The law firm of Kurt Hilbert, who was on Trump’s phone call pressuring the Republican secretary of state in Georgia, Brad Raffensperger, to “find” votes to overturn the election outcome, was paid more than $480,000. A $3 million payment went to the Wisconsin election commission to pay for a recount.

One major Republican donor, C. Boyden Gray, who contributed more than $2 million to Republicans in the 2020 cycle, also provided legal consulting for Trump, earning $114,000.

The man who made so many public appearances on behalf of Trump as his personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, reported no payments by the former president’s campaign. His firm was reimbursed for $63,423 in travel in mid-December.

An associate of Giuliani’s had asked that he be paid $20,000 a day for his work for Trump, which Giuliani initially denied. He later acknowledged the request to The New York Times, but he has continued to publicly deny making money for his work, including in a radio appearance Sunday.

“I haven’t made a penny on it,” Giuliani said.

The Trump campaign also spent $20,130 in mid-December for what were described as travel reimbursements to the Kerik Group, led by former New York Police Commissioner Bernard B. Kerik, whom Trump pardoned last year for his 2010 conviction on eight felonies. Kerik is a close ally of Giuliani’s.

The Trump operation continued to spend on fundraising, pouring millions more into a secretive limited liability company, American Made Media Consultants, for online and text-message advertising. Family members of Trump and Vice President Mike Pence once served on the board of that company, which had more than $700 million in spending flow through it during the 2020 campaign.

One of Trump’s shared committees with the Republican National Committee spent $237,000 on books through a company, Reagan Investments, that has also done work for a PAC controlled by Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas. The Trump campaign offered signed copies of Cruz’s book last fall to donors who gave $75 or more.

And, as they have since the beginning of his candidacy in 2015, Trump’s campaign accounts patronized his businesses in the postelection period.

The Trump Victory committee paid $34,000 to the Trump Hotel Collection in its final 2020 filing. The same committee also paid a Trump-owned limited liability company that operates a private plane, DT Endeavor, $39,200 on Nov. 24.

Another Trump campaign committee paid $75,000 in rent to the Trump Tower building in December.

Former President Donald Trump and the Republican Party entered this year having stockpiled more than $175 million from fundraising in November and December based on his false claims of voter fraud, spending only a tiny fraction on lawyers and bills for his effort to overturn the presidential election, according to new campaign finance reports filed Sunday night.

Former President Donald Trump and the Republican Party entered this year having stockpiled more than $175 million from fundraising in November and December based on his false claims of voter fraud, spending only a tiny fraction on lawyers and bills for his effort to overturn the presidential election, according to new campaign finance reports filed Sunday night. The picture that emerges in the new Federal Election Commission reports is of Trump mounting a furious public relations effort to spread the lie and keep generating money from it, rather than making a sustained legal push to try to support his conspiracy theories. His campaign’s single biggest expense in December was a nearly $5 million media buy paid to the firm that bought his television advertisements. His second-largest payment, $4.4 million, was for online advertising. And the Republican National Committee pocketed millions of dollars in donations — collecting 25 cents for every dollar Trump raised online — in the final weeks of the year as it spent relatively little on legal costs. All told, Trump’s campaign spent only $10 million on legal costs — about one-fifth of what it spent on advertising and fundraising, according to an analysis of Federal Election Commission filings from Nov. 4 through the end of the year. During that period, Trump’s conspiracy-fueled accusations that votes had been miscounted or misappropriated repeatedly fell flat in the courts. Joe Biden was elected president by voters on Nov. 3, confirmed by the Electoral College on Dec. 14 and ratified by Congress on Jan. 6 — the same day that Trump incited a mob that stormed the Capitol. But while Trump’s efforts to delegitimize the election did not keep him in power, they did spur millions in contributions from loyal supporters and provided both him and the party with an enormous infusion of cash. The Republican National Committee ended the year with more than $80 million in the bank after the fundraising blitz, and Trump had $31 million in the new political action committee he formed in November for his post-presidential political ventures. That accounts for just some of their haul. The party and the former president had roughly $63 million more in two shared accounts waiting to be distributed between them, with Trump’s PAC entitled to 75% of the money raised in December, giving him an estimated $70 million PAC war chest. Most of the money appears to have come online and from smaller contributors, with relatively few five- and six-figure checks, especially once the calendar turned to December. One $100,000 check in early December came from Elaine J. Wold, a major Republican donor in Florida. Though his race was over, Trump’s voracious online fundraising from Nov. 24 through the end of the year even outpaced that of the two Republican senators, Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue, who were competing in the Georgia runoff elections that would determine control of the chamber. During those 39 days, Trump and his shared committees with the RNC raised $80 million online; Loeffler and Perdue combined for closer to $75 million. Both lost. Trump did incur some legal costs from more than a dozen law firms. He paid $1.6 million to Kasowitz Benson Torres, more than $500,000 to Jones Day and about $600,000 to Dechert. The law firm of Kurt Hilbert, who was on Trump’s phone call pressuring the Republican secretary of state in Georgia, Brad Raffensperger, to “find” votes to overturn the election outcome, was paid more than $480,000. A $3 million payment went to the Wisconsin election commission to pay for a recount. One major Republican donor, C. Boyden Gray, who contributed more than $2 million to Republicans in the 2020 cycle, also provided legal consulting for Trump, earning $114,000. The man who made so many public appearances on behalf of Trump as his personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, reported no payments by the former president’s campaign. His firm was reimbursed for $63,423 in travel in mid-December. An associate of Giuliani’s had asked that he be paid $20,000 a day for his work for Trump, which Giuliani initially denied. He later acknowledged the request to The New York Times, but he has continued to publicly deny making money for his work, including in a radio appearance Sunday. “I haven’t made a penny on it,” Giuliani said. The Trump campaign also spent $20,130 in mid-December for what were described as travel reimbursements to the Kerik Group, led by former New York Police Commissioner Bernard B. Kerik, whom Trump pardoned last year for his 2010 conviction on eight felonies. Kerik is a close ally of Giuliani’s. The Trump operation continued to spend on fundraising, pouring millions more into a secretive limited liability company, American Made Media Consultants, for online and text-message advertising. Family members of Trump and Vice President Mike Pence once served on the board of that company, which had more than $700 million in spending flow through it during the 2020 campaign. One of Trump’s shared committees with the Republican National Committee spent $237,000 on books through a company, Reagan Investments, that has also done work for a PAC controlled by Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas. The Trump campaign offered signed copies of Cruz’s book last fall to donors who gave $75 or more. And, as they have since the beginning of his candidacy in 2015, Trump’s campaign accounts patronized his businesses in the postelection period. The Trump Victory committee paid $34,000 to the Trump Hotel Collection in its final 2020 filing. The same committee also paid a Trump-owned limited liability company that operates a private plane, DT Endeavor, $39,200 on Nov. 24. Another Trump campaign committee paid $75,000 in rent to the Trump Tower building in December.

As Trump raked in cash denying his loss, little went to actual legal fight

United States' Ex-President Donald Trump is likely to be acquitted in the Senate impeachment trial as Democrats struggle to gain enough support from Republicans.

Democrats need 17 Republican votes to convict Donald Trump

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said on Sunday (January 24) that former President Donald Trump's approaching second impeachment trial in the Senate will be fair but move at a relatively fast pace.

US Senate's Schumer says Trump impeachment trial will be fair but move quickly

The leaders of the U.S. Senate agreed on Friday to push back former President Donald Trump's impeachment trial by two weeks, giving the chamber more time to focus on President Joe Biden's legislative agenda and Cabinet nominees before turning to the contentious showdown over Trump.

Donald Trump impeachment trial in the US Senate to begin soon

The leaders of the U.S. Senate agreed to push back former President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial by two weeks. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said that the trial is set to begin during the week of Monday (8 February).

US Ex-President Trump's impeachment trial postponed to February

U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi said on Thursday (January 21) she will consult with fellow Democrats in coming days about the Senate's readiness to begin an impeachment trial on former President Donald Trump's alleged role in the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol.

US House Speaker Pelosi makes her case for Trump impeachment trial

United States Senate has acquitted US President Donald Trump on Wednesday in his impeachment trial, Trump was saved by fellow Republicans who rallied to protect him nine months before he asks voters in a deeply divided America to give him a second White House term.

Senate clears Trump in impeachment trial

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

The Democrats and Republicans continue to clash over the admission of new evidence and witnesses in the impeachment trial. So let us tell you what exactly Democrats are demanding.

What are the Democrats demanding?

The US Senate convenes to debate a resolution setting the rules for the impeachment trial against Donald Trump. Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell changes trial limits after an uproar from democrats and concerns from some Republicans, now each side will get 24 hours for opening arguments over three days.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/sparks-fly-as-trump-impeachment-trial-opens-275837">Also read: Sparks fly as Trump impeachment trial opens</a>

And there are early indications, that the trial will be the political slugfest, that many predicted.

The Democrats and Republicans clashed on what has become the most contentious issue of the trial — calling new witnesses and documents.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-impeachment-trial-opens-as-watchdog-faults-white-house-on-ukraine-274763">Also read: Trump impeachment trial opens as watchdog faults White House on Ukraine</a>

Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer called the senate trial rules 'completely partisan'.

He said the rules were framed by President Trump himself.

"The Republican leader will offer an organizing resolution that outlines his plan, his plan, for the rules of the trial. It is completely partisan. It was kept secret until the very eve of the trial. And now that it's public, it's very easy to see why. The McConnell rules seem to be designed by President Trump for President Trump," said Chuck Schumer, the minority leader. 
 
However, Schumer's amendments to subpoena key Trump aides is being shot down by the Republicans one-by-one.

First, the proposals to request White House and State Department documents were voted down by the republicans.

Another proposal to subpoena acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney has also been rejected by the Senate.

Most of the voting so far has remained along partisan lines.

Trump's legal team has argued that these witnesses were not part of the house hearings, and therefore cannot be included now.

They have argued that the Senate must not do the house's job for it. "We are being told that majority leader Mitch McConnell is in favour of finalising the trial rules today."

Minority leader Chuck Schumer, however, is introducing separate amendments for Trump aides and government documents. Schumer is also insisting on voting for each amendment.

The huge uproar by the Democrats was not completely ineffective.

Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell was forced to tweak his trial rules in a last-minute organising resolution.

The major change is that both sides will now get 24 hours to make opening comments over three days instead of two.

And all house evidence will be admitted unless there is a vote against it.

As all this drama unfolded in the senate, Donald trump was keeping a close watch from Davos, where he is attending the world economic forum summit.

He tweeted amid the trial with a single statement — Read the transcripts.

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READ THE TRANSCRIPTS!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1219698190129225728?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 21, 2020</a></blockquote>
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The US Senate convenes to debate a resolution setting the rules for the impeachment trial against Donald Trump. Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell changes trial limits after an uproar from democrats and concerns from some Republicans, now each side will get 24 hours for opening arguments over three days.

The US Senate convenes to debate a resolution setting the rules for the impeachment trial against Donald Trump. Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell changes trial limits after an uproar from democrats and concerns from some Republicans, now each side will get 24 hours for opening arguments over three days. Also read: Sparks fly as Trump impeachment trial opens And there are early indications, that the trial will be the political slugfest, that many predicted. The Democrats and Republicans clashed on what has become the most contentious issue of the trial — calling new witnesses and documents. Also read: Trump impeachment trial opens as watchdog faults White House on Ukraine Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer called the senate trial rules 'completely partisan'. He said the rules were framed by President Trump himself. "The Republican leader will offer an organizing resolution that outlines his plan, his plan, for the rules of the trial. It is completely partisan. It was kept secret until the very eve of the trial. And now that it's public, it's very easy to see why. The McConnell rules seem to be designed by President Trump for President Trump," said Chuck Schumer, the minority leader. However, Schumer's amendments to subpoena key Trump aides is being shot down by the Republicans one-by-one. First, the proposals to request White House and State Department documents were voted down by the republicans. Another proposal to subpoena acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney has also been rejected by the Senate. Most of the voting so far has remained along partisan lines. Trump's legal team has argued that these witnesses were not part of the house hearings, and therefore cannot be included now. They have argued that the Senate must not do the house's job for it. "We are being told that majority leader Mitch McConnell is in favour of finalising the trial rules today." Minority leader Chuck Schumer, however, is introducing separate amendments for Trump aides and government documents. Schumer is also insisting on voting for each amendment. The huge uproar by the Democrats was not completely ineffective. Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell was forced to tweak his trial rules in a last-minute organising resolution. The major change is that both sides will now get 24 hours to make opening comments over three days instead of two. And all house evidence will be admitted unless there is a vote against it. As all this drama unfolded in the senate, Donald trump was keeping a close watch from Davos, where he is attending the world economic forum summit. He tweeted amid the trial with a single statement — Read the transcripts. READ THE TRANSCRIPTS! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 21, 2020 ×

Donald Trump impeachment: Senate trial officially underway, bitter debate dominates Day 1

Sparks flew Tuesday over proposed rules for the Senate trial of President Donald Trump, as Democrats accused Republicans of attempting a "cover-up" of evidence that the US leader abused his powers.

The first full day of the historic trial saw the Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell submit a resolution on procedures that does not admit evidence from the investigation of the president.

It also significantly compresses the timeline of Bill Clinton's 1999 trial, and prevents witnesses from being subpoenaed until both sides have finished arguing their case -- in what Democrats alleged was a bid to prevent fair and open proceedings.

"Leader McConnell's process is deliberately designed to hide the truth from the Senate and from the American people because he knows that the President's wrongdoing is indefensible and demands removal," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said in a statement.

"The Senate GOP Leader has chosen a cover-up for the President, rather than honour his oath to the Constitution," she said.

Democratic prosecutor Adam Schiff, who led the investigation that resulted in Trump's December 18 impeachment by the House of Representatives, accused McConnell of working "in concert" with the White House to prevent a fair trial.

"This is a process for a rigged trial," he charged.

Witness question remains

After the two articles of impeachment charging Trump with abuse of power and obstruction of Congress were submitted to the Senate last week, his trial gets underway in earnest Tuesday afternoon with the 100 senators -- the jurors in the case -- voting on a timeline and rules for evidence.

It is only the third time a president has endured an impeachment trial, after Clinton and Andrew Johnson in 1868.

Like his two predecessors, Trump looks almost certain to be acquitted by the Senate Republican majority in a trial that could be as short as two weeks.

McConnell unveiled procedures late Monday which called for each side to have 24 hours over two days to present their case.

That suggested that the arguments in front of presiding Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts could stretch for 12 hours at a time, starting from 1 pm (1800 GMT) and spilling into the early morning hours.

Only afterwards would the question of witnesses be addressed: Democrats say they need to hear from key officials whose testimony the White House has until now blocked, but many Republicans retort that they had their opportunity and must now be content with the record to date.

Democrats have vowed to fight the proposed rules, accusing McConnell of rushing the trial and making it harder for witnesses and documents to be presented.

But with a 53-47 Republican majority in the Senate, and little dissent within the party, the rules are likely to pass with ease.

Schiff, who is leading the House impeachment managers team prosecuting the case against Trump, nevertheless urged Republican senators to force McConnell to change his proposal.

"This is the process if you do not want the American people to see the evidence," he said.

'Just a hoax'

The trial opens four months after the Ukraine scandal exploded, and 10 months before Americans go to the polls to decide whether to re-elect Trump.

The president himself was in Davos, Switzerland for the World Economic Forum on Tuesday, where he repeated his longstanding characterization of impeachment as a "hoax."

In Davos, Trump said, "we're meeting with world leaders, the most important people in the world and we're bringing back tremendous business."

"The other's just a hoax," he said. "It's the witch hunt that's been going on for years and frankly it's disgraceful."

Pressure on Ukraine

The articles of impeachment state that Trump tried to pressure Ukraine into interfering in the 2020 election to help him win, and that he then tried to thwart the investigation by blocking witnesses and denying documents to the House of Representatives.

Central to the scandal is a July 25 telephone call in which Trump pushed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to announce an investigation of former vice president Joe Biden, Trump's potential opponent in the November vote.

Trump is accused of withholding nearly $400 million in military aid for Ukraine's war against Russian-backed separatists, and refusing Zelensky a White House meeting unless he opened a probe of Biden.

On Sunday Trump's legal team issued a 110-page defence which claimed the House has accused him of no specific "crime," that their investigation was a "rigged process," and that Trump was within his rights to push Ukraine to investigate Biden.

The Democrats' hopes for conviction rest heavily on whether they can persuade four Republican senators to break ranks and agree to subpoena four witnesses, current and former high-level Trump aides who Democrats say have first-hand knowledge of Trump wrongdoing.

Sparks flew Tuesday over proposed rules for the Senate trial of President Donald Trump, as Democrats accused Republicans of attempting a "cover-up" of evidence that the US leader abused his powers.

Sparks flew Tuesday over proposed rules for the Senate trial of President Donald Trump, as Democrats accused Republicans of attempting a "cover-up" of evidence that the US leader abused his powers. The first full day of the historic trial saw the Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell submit a resolution on procedures that does not admit evidence from the investigation of the president. It also significantly compresses the timeline of Bill Clinton's 1999 trial, and prevents witnesses from being subpoenaed until both sides have finished arguing their case -- in what Democrats alleged was a bid to prevent fair and open proceedings. "Leader McConnell's process is deliberately designed to hide the truth from the Senate and from the American people because he knows that the President's wrongdoing is indefensible and demands removal," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said in a statement. "The Senate GOP Leader has chosen a cover-up for the President, rather than honour his oath to the Constitution," she said. Democratic prosecutor Adam Schiff, who led the investigation that resulted in Trump's December 18 impeachment by the House of Representatives, accused McConnell of working "in concert" with the White House to prevent a fair trial. "This is a process for a rigged trial," he charged. Witness question remains After the two articles of impeachment charging Trump with abuse of power and obstruction of Congress were submitted to the Senate last week, his trial gets underway in earnest Tuesday afternoon with the 100 senators -- the jurors in the case -- voting on a timeline and rules for evidence. It is only the third time a president has endured an impeachment trial, after Clinton and Andrew Johnson in 1868. Like his two predecessors, Trump looks almost certain to be acquitted by the Senate Republican majority in a trial that could be as short as two weeks. McConnell unveiled procedures late Monday which called for each side to have 24 hours over two days to present their case. That suggested that the arguments in front of presiding Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts could stretch for 12 hours at a time, starting from 1 pm (1800 GMT) and spilling into the early morning hours. Only afterwards would the question of witnesses be addressed: Democrats say they need to hear from key officials whose testimony the White House has until now blocked, but many Republicans retort that they had their opportunity and must now be content with the record to date. Democrats have vowed to fight the proposed rules, accusing McConnell of rushing the trial and making it harder for witnesses and documents to be presented. But with a 53-47 Republican majority in the Senate, and little dissent within the party, the rules are likely to pass with ease. Schiff, who is leading the House impeachment managers team prosecuting the case against Trump, nevertheless urged Republican senators to force McConnell to change his proposal. "This is the process if you do not want the American people to see the evidence," he said. 'Just a hoax' The trial opens four months after the Ukraine scandal exploded, and 10 months before Americans go to the polls to decide whether to re-elect Trump. The president himself was in Davos, Switzerland for the World Economic Forum on Tuesday, where he repeated his longstanding characterization of impeachment as a "hoax." In Davos, Trump said, "we're meeting with world leaders, the most important people in the world and we're bringing back tremendous business." "The other's just a hoax," he said. "It's the witch hunt that's been going on for years and frankly it's disgraceful." Pressure on Ukraine The articles of impeachment state that Trump tried to pressure Ukraine into interfering in the 2020 election to help him win, and that he then tried to thwart the investigation by blocking witnesses and denying documents to the House of Representatives. Central to the scandal is a July 25 telephone call in which Trump pushed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to announce an investigation of former vice president Joe Biden, Trump's potential opponent in the November vote. Trump is accused of withholding nearly $400 million in military aid for Ukraine's war against Russian-backed separatists, and refusing Zelensky a White House meeting unless he opened a probe of Biden. On Sunday Trump's legal team issued a 110-page defence which claimed the House has accused him of no specific "crime," that their investigation was a "rigged process," and that Trump was within his rights to push Ukraine to investigate Biden. The Democrats' hopes for conviction rest heavily on whether they can persuade four Republican senators to break ranks and agree to subpoena four witnesses, current and former high-level Trump aides who Democrats say have first-hand knowledge of Trump wrongdoing.

Sparks fly as Trump impeachment trial opens

The US Senate on Thursday took formal steps to formally consider allegations of ousting US President Donald Trump, even abusing his power, even major issues such as witness his impeachment trial but will remain in the air.

Trump impeachment: Senate begins trial, all 100 senators sworn-in as jurors

Suspended Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff told senators in emotional testimony at her trial Monday that voting for her impeachment would amount to a &quot;coup d&#39;etat.&quot; 
 
Declaring her innocence and recalling how she was tortured under Brazil&#39;s military dictatorship in the 1970s, Rousseff warned that Latin America&#39;s biggest country was on the verge of losing its democracy. 
 
&quot;Vote against impeachment, vote for democracy.... Do not accept a coup,&quot; the 68-year-old leftist leader said as she defended herself before senators who are widely expected to remove her from office by Wednesday. 
 
About 2,000 supporters rallied in her support near the Senate building in the capital Brasilia, waving flags -- a fraction of the crowds her Workers&#39; Party has drawn in the past. 
 
Protesters also massed in Rio de Janeiro and in Sao Paulo, where they lit fires and riot police fired tear gas to disperse them. 
 
Brazil&#39;s first woman president is accused of having taken illegal state loans to patch budget holes in 2014, to mask the country&#39;s problems as it slid into its deepest recession in decades. 
 
Momentum to push her out of office is also fueled by deep anger at months of political paralysis and a vast corruption scandal centered on state oil giant Petrobras. 
 
All indications point to the Senate impeaching Rousseff when voting starts Tuesday, ending 13 years of rule by the leftist Workers&#39; Party. 
 
Her last-minute defense started around 9:30 am (1230 GMT), with scores of senators scheduled to question her. She was still talking and gesturing 12 hours later as the session wore on into the night. 
 
- &#39;Look in the eye&#39; - 
During questioning that followed Rousseff&#39;s 45-minute opening speech, pro-impeachment Senator Simone Tebet said that as president, Rousseff had criminally mismanaged Brazil&#39;s accounts by taking the unauthorized loans. 
 
&quot;An unreal Brazil was sold. The unreal numbers led to a loss of confidence among Brazilians and we are facing the worst financial crisis in the history of the country,&quot; Tebet said. 
 
But Rousseff, arguing that the loans were a commonly used fiscal stopgap, said she&#39;d been accused &quot;unjustly and arbitrarily.&quot; 
 
&quot;I&#39;ve come to look your excellencies in the eye to say that I did not commit a crime,&quot; she said in a calm, firm voice from the Senate chamber podium in the capital Brasilia. 
 
There appeared to be little Rousseff could say however to save her presidency. 
 
Voting was expected Tuesday, possibly extending into Wednesday. Pro-impeachment senators say they will easily reach the needed two-thirds majority -- 54 of 81 senators -- to remove her from office. 
 
In that case, Rousseff&#39;s former vice president turned political enemy, Michel Temer, will be confirmed as president until elections in 2018. 
 
Temer, from the center-right PMDB party, has already been acting president since May, using his brief period in power to steer the government rightward. 
 
Rousseff has barely double digit approval ratings. But Temer is hardly more popular, according to opinion polls. 
 
While her presidency has been mired in the Petrobras embezzlement and bribery scandal, Rousseff has never been charged with trying to enrich herself -- unlike many of her prominent accusers and close allies. 
 
Keeping to his residence while the Senate drama unfolded, Temer greeted members of the Brazilian Olympic team and said he was following proceedings &quot;with complete calm,&quot; Globo news site reported. 
 
- Voice breaking - 
Although Rousseff spoke mostly in a measured tone, her voice cracked and she appeared close to tears while recalling her suffering as a young leftist guerrilla and in battling cancer. 
 
&quot;Twice I have seen the face of death close up: when I was tortured for days on end, subjected to abuses that make us doubt humanity and the meaning of life itself, and when a serious and extremely painful illness could have cut short my life,&quot; she said. 
 
&quot;Today I only fear for the death of democracy for which many of us here in this chamber fought.&quot; 
 
The Workers&#39; Party under Rousseff and her predecessor Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is credited with raising millions of Brazilians out of poverty. 
 
Lula burst into applause in the chamber and chanted: &quot;Dilma, warrior of the Brazilian people!&quot; 
 
Brasilia police said they were preparing for about 10,000 demonstrators Monday and up to 30,000 during the impeachment vote session. 
 
&quot;I am fighting to defend democracy and the dignity of the people,&quot; said retired teacher Marlene Bastos, 65, who was among the demonstrators. 
 
&quot;This has been a persecution against the Workers&#39; Party, Dilma and the Brazilian people.&quot; 
 
(AFP)

Saying that her impeachment would mean a coup, Rousseff warned that the country was on the verge of losing its democracy

Suspended Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff told senators in emotional testimony at her trial Monday that voting for her impeachment would amount to a "coup d'etat." Declaring her innocence and recalling how she was tortured under Brazil's military dictatorship in the 1970s, Rousseff warned that Latin America's biggest country was on the verge of losing its democracy. "Vote against impeachment, vote for democracy.... Do not accept a coup," the 68-year-old leftist leader said as she defended herself before senators who are widely expected to remove her from office by Wednesday. About 2,000 supporters rallied in her support near the Senate building in the capital Brasilia, waving flags -- a fraction of the crowds her Workers' Party has drawn in the past. Protesters also massed in Rio de Janeiro and in Sao Paulo, where they lit fires and riot police fired tear gas to disperse them. Brazil's first woman president is accused of having taken illegal state loans to patch budget holes in 2014, to mask the country's problems as it slid into its deepest recession in decades. Momentum to push her out of office is also fueled by deep anger at months of political paralysis and a vast corruption scandal centered on state oil giant Petrobras. All indications point to the Senate impeaching Rousseff when voting starts Tuesday, ending 13 years of rule by the leftist Workers' Party. Her last-minute defense started around 9:30 am (1230 GMT), with scores of senators scheduled to question her. She was still talking and gesturing 12 hours later as the session wore on into the night. - 'Look in the eye' - During questioning that followed Rousseff's 45-minute opening speech, pro-impeachment Senator Simone Tebet said that as president, Rousseff had criminally mismanaged Brazil's accounts by taking the unauthorized loans. "An unreal Brazil was sold. The unreal numbers led to a loss of confidence among Brazilians and we are facing the worst financial crisis in the history of the country," Tebet said. But Rousseff, arguing that the loans were a commonly used fiscal stopgap, said she'd been accused "unjustly and arbitrarily." "I've come to look your excellencies in the eye to say that I did not commit a crime," she said in a calm, firm voice from the Senate chamber podium in the capital Brasilia. There appeared to be little Rousseff could say however to save her presidency. Voting was expected Tuesday, possibly extending into Wednesday. Pro-impeachment senators say they will easily reach the needed two-thirds majority -- 54 of 81 senators -- to remove her from office. In that case, Rousseff's former vice president turned political enemy, Michel Temer, will be confirmed as president until elections in 2018. Temer, from the center-right PMDB party, has already been acting president since May, using his brief period in power to steer the government rightward. Rousseff has barely double digit approval ratings. But Temer is hardly more popular, according to opinion polls. While her presidency has been mired in the Petrobras embezzlement and bribery scandal, Rousseff has never been charged with trying to enrich herself -- unlike many of her prominent accusers and close allies. Keeping to his residence while the Senate drama unfolded, Temer greeted members of the Brazilian Olympic team and said he was following proceedings "with complete calm," Globo news site reported. - Voice breaking - Although Rousseff spoke mostly in a measured tone, her voice cracked and she appeared close to tears while recalling her suffering as a young leftist guerrilla and in battling cancer. "Twice I have seen the face of death close up: when I was tortured for days on end, subjected to abuses that make us doubt humanity and the meaning of life itself, and when a serious and extremely painful illness could have cut short my life," she said. "Today I only fear for the death of democracy for which many of us here in this chamber fought." The Workers' Party under Rousseff and her predecessor Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is credited with raising millions of Brazilians out of poverty. Lula burst into applause in the chamber and chanted: "Dilma, warrior of the Brazilian people!" Brasilia police said they were preparing for about 10,000 demonstrators Monday and up to 30,000 during the impeachment vote session. "I am fighting to defend democracy and the dignity of the people," said retired teacher Marlene Bastos, 65, who was among the demonstrators. "This has been a persecution against the Workers' Party, Dilma and the Brazilian people." (AFP)

Brazil's Rousseff urges vote against 'coup'

Day two of suspended Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff&#39;s impeachment trial witnessed angry quarrels as Rousseff&#39;s key ally Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva faced corruption charges. 
 
The trial in capital Brasilia began with much shouting leading to Supreme Court Chief Justice Ricardo Lewandowski putting the session on hold temporarily. 
 
Senate president Renan Calheiros called the senate a &quot;madhouse&quot; following the incident. 
 
About two-thirds of the senators have current or past brushes with the law, reported the country&#39;s corruption watchdog, Transparencia Brasil. 
 
Rousseff, 68, is charged with taking unauthorised state bank loans to cover up budgetary shortfalls during her 2014 re-election. 
 
She however claims to be a victim of the right-wing trying to attain power after 13 years of her leftist Workers&#39; Party ruling the nation. 
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<h5>Rousseff, 68, is charged with taking unauthorised state bank loans to cover up budgetary shortfalls during her 2014 re-election.</h5>
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<div class="share-blockquote"><a class="twitter popup" href="http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Rousseff, 68, is charged with taking unauthorised state bank loans to cover up budgetary shortfalls during her 2014 re-election." target="_blank">&nbsp;</a></div>
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A witness for the defense, economist Luiz Gonzaga Belluzo, insisted that Rousseff&#39;s ousting would be &quot;an attack on democracy.&quot; 
 
Rousseff will testify on Monday in her final defense attempt before the senators vote. 
 
Workers&#39; Party founder Lula faced problems after the police filed a request for corruption and money laundering charges against him on Friday in connection with the scheme at state oil company Petrobras. 
 
His lawyer Cristiano Zanin Martins said that Lula was targeted by a politically motivated case. 
 
&quot;Once again there is an act that by a strange coincidence occurs at a politically important moment for the country,&quot; he told a news conference in Sao Paulo. 
 
Prosecutors and a judge are yet to approve the recommendation for Lula to go to trial. 
 
As for Rousseff, a vote would take place within 48 hours after the senators&#39; final speeches and a pro-impeachment vote (two-thirds of the senate voting for it) would see her removed from office with immediate effect. 
 
In case of Rousseff&#39;s impeachment, vice president Michel Temer will be sworn in. 
 
(WION with inputs from agencies)

Workers' Party founder Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was targeted by a politically motivated case, said his lawyer

Day two of suspended Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff's impeachment trial witnessed angry quarrels as Rousseff's key ally Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva faced corruption charges. The trial in capital Brasilia began with much shouting leading to Supreme Court Chief Justice Ricardo Lewandowski putting the session on hold temporarily. Senate president Renan Calheiros called the senate a "madhouse" following the incident. About two-thirds of the senators have current or past brushes with the law, reported the country's corruption watchdog, Transparencia Brasil. Rousseff, 68, is charged with taking unauthorised state bank loans to cover up budgetary shortfalls during her 2014 re-election. She however claims to be a victim of the right-wing trying to attain power after 13 years of her leftist Workers' Party ruling the nation. Rousseff, 68, is charged with taking unauthorised state bank loans to cover up budgetary shortfalls during her 2014 re-election. A witness for the defense, economist Luiz Gonzaga Belluzo, insisted that Rousseff's ousting would be "an attack on democracy." Rousseff will testify on Monday in her final defense attempt before the senators vote. Workers' Party founder Lula faced problems after the police filed a request for corruption and money laundering charges against him on Friday in connection with the scheme at state oil company Petrobras. His lawyer Cristiano Zanin Martins said that Lula was targeted by a politically motivated case. "Once again there is an act that by a strange coincidence occurs at a politically important moment for the country," he told a news conference in Sao Paulo. Prosecutors and a judge are yet to approve the recommendation for Lula to go to trial. As for Rousseff, a vote would take place within 48 hours after the senators' final speeches and a pro-impeachment vote (two-thirds of the senate voting for it) would see her removed from office with immediate effect. In case of Rousseff's impeachment, vice president Michel Temer will be sworn in. (WION with inputs from agencies)

Rousseff's impeachment trial: Brazil president's key ally faces graft charges on Day 2

Brazil&#39;s senate began the impeachment trial of suspended President Dilma Rousseff yesterday 
 
The lengthy impeachment process has paralysed the politics of Latin America&#39;s largest nation and is expected to conclude with her removal from office next week. 
 
The trial was declared open and briefly suspended later as senators shouted at each other while debating procedural matters. 
 
Media anticipates that a majority of senators will find Rousseff, 68, guilty of cooking the budget books to mask the depth of economic problems during her 2014 re-election campaign. If the trial decides against Rousseff, her centre-right former vice president turned rival Michel Temer will be sworn in to serve until 2018. 
 
&quot;Senators, now you must turn into judges and set aside your ideological, partisan and personal positions,&quot; Chief justice Ricardo Lewandowski told the house. But the impeachment affair is heavily politically charged. 
 
Rousseff&#39;s rivals blame her for economic chaos and are out to crush her Workers&#39; Party (PT). 
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<h5>Rousseff&#39;s rivals blame her for economic chaos and are out to crush her Workers&#39; Party (PT).</h5>
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&quot;I am going to vote for impeachment, which is a political instrument that permits us to remove from power anyone who is misusing it,&quot; said Simone Tebet, a senator from Temer&#39;s PMDB party. 
 
Rousseff&#39;s ally and predecessor, PT founder Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, said in a speech in Rio: &quot;Today begins a week of national shame.&quot; 
 
&#39;Fight for democracy&#39; 
 
Rousseff, who was tortured and imprisoned by the 1970s dictatorship for membership in a Marxist urban guerrilla group, has denied any wrongdoing and has sworn to resist what she calls a &#39;coup&#39;. 
 
&quot;We will fight to reinforce democracy in our country with the same force that I fought against the military dictatorship,&quot; she told supporters late on Wednesday in Brasilia. Rousseff, who was suspended in May, has refused to resign. She has defended her actions by saying that previous governments have commonly used the accounting practices she was being put on trial for. 
 
In yesterday&#39;s opening session, her allies voiced procedural objections in vain before the first evidence was heard. The President will address the senate herself in a climax to the trial on Monday. A two-thirds majority of the 81 senators are required to bring Rousseff down in a vote expected within 48 hours of her speech. 
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<h5>Unofficially, Rousseff is taking the blame for Brazil&#39;s slide into economic decline, mixed with a giant corruption scandal over state oil giant Petrobras.</h5>
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Senator Raimundo Lira, a Temer ally and strong backer of impeachment, told AFP that senators &quot;have already made up their minds and I don&#39;t think there will be any change at the vote.&quot; 
 
A survey published by O Globo newspaper yesterday showed that 52 senators were committed to voting to dismiss Rousseff, with only 19 supporting her and 10 undecided or not polled. 
 
A huge metal barricade was set up on the esplanade outside Congress to separate rival demonstrators, with large protests expected on Monday. The charges against her focus on her use of unauthorised state loans to cover budget gaps. 
 
Unofficially, Rousseff is taking the blame for Brazil&#39;s slide into economic decline, mixed with a giant corruption scandal over state oil giant Petrobras. Although Rousseff herself has not been accused of stealing from Petrobras, many of her close allies on the left, as well as opponents on the right, have been charged. 
 
Daunting task 
 
Temer, who has served as acting president since May, is hardly more popular than Rousseff. 
 
A recent opinion poll found only 14 per cent of Brazilians thought he was doing a good job.&nbsp;However, his centre-right coalition and choice of market-friendly ministers have raised expectations that he can get the economy back on track. 
 
If confirmed president by Rousseff&#39;s ouster, Temer would face a daunting task: steering Latin America&#39;s largest economy out of recession and plugging a budget deficit that has topped 10 per cent of gross domestic product. 
 
Brazilian assets have rallied on prospects of a more market-friendly government, with the currency rising around 30 per cent against the dollar this year. Still, investors and members of Temer&#39;s fragile coalition are concerned he has yet to implement measures to control the deficit.&nbsp;The economy shrank 3.8 per cent in 2015 and is forecast to drop about 3.3 per cent again this year, a historic recession. Inflation is at about 9 per cent and unemployment at 11 per cent . 
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<h5>Brazilian assets have rallied on prospects of a more market-friendly government, with the currency rising around 30 per cent against the dollar this year.</h5>
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Temer&#39;s right-leaning government has sought to speed up the trial so he can set about restoring confidence in a once-booming economy and remove any doubts about his legitimacy. 
 
A draft budget for next year is not expected in Congress until Aug. 31, after the Senate votes, by which time Temer could have more political leverage to push through austerity measures. 
 
Investors are concerned Temer might give in to pressure for spending increases such as pay hikes for public employees, including the nation&#39;s judges, a demand supported by Lewandowski. 
 
Temer has proposed a constitutional limit on spending and a broad reform of Brazil&#39;s pension system to reverse a deteriorating fiscal outlook - moves applauded by credit rating agencies that last year stripped the country of its prized investment grade. 
 
&quot;While we expect the current administration to have a better chance of getting these reforms through Congress than the previous government, there is still no clear support to approve these measures,&quot; Moody&#39;s Investors Service said in a client note. 
 
If Rousseff is removed, Temer must be sworn in by the Senate. He is then expected to address the nation before heading to the summit of the G20 group of leading economies in China on Sept. 4-5. 
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&quot;I agree that Dilma must leave power. Leaders must be responsible for their actions,&quot; said Mara Campos, 50, waiting at a bus stop in Brasilia. &quot;But I am very worried because this trial is traumatic.&quot; 
 
(WION with inputs from agencies)

A two-thirds majority of the 81 senators are required to bring Rousseff down. The trial will conclude next week on Monday

Brazil's senate began the impeachment trial of suspended President Dilma Rousseff yesterday The lengthy impeachment process has paralysed the politics of Latin America's largest nation and is expected to conclude with her removal from office next week. The trial was declared open and briefly suspended later as senators shouted at each other while debating procedural matters. Media anticipates that a majority of senators will find Rousseff, 68, guilty of cooking the budget books to mask the depth of economic problems during her 2014 re-election campaign. If the trial decides against Rousseff, her centre-right former vice president turned rival Michel Temer will be sworn in to serve until 2018. "Senators, now you must turn into judges and set aside your ideological, partisan and personal positions," Chief justice Ricardo Lewandowski told the house. But the impeachment affair is heavily politically charged. Rousseff's rivals blame her for economic chaos and are out to crush her Workers' Party (PT). Rousseff's rivals blame her for economic chaos and are out to crush her Workers' Party (PT). "I am going to vote for impeachment, which is a political instrument that permits us to remove from power anyone who is misusing it," said Simone Tebet, a senator from Temer's PMDB party. Rousseff's ally and predecessor, PT founder Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, said in a speech in Rio: "Today begins a week of national shame." 'Fight for democracy' Rousseff, who was tortured and imprisoned by the 1970s dictatorship for membership in a Marxist urban guerrilla group, has denied any wrongdoing and has sworn to resist what she calls a 'coup'. "We will fight to reinforce democracy in our country with the same force that I fought against the military dictatorship," she told supporters late on Wednesday in Brasilia. Rousseff, who was suspended in May, has refused to resign. She has defended her actions by saying that previous governments have commonly used the accounting practices she was being put on trial for. In yesterday's opening session, her allies voiced procedural objections in vain before the first evidence was heard. The President will address the senate herself in a climax to the trial on Monday. A two-thirds majority of the 81 senators are required to bring Rousseff down in a vote expected within 48 hours of her speech. Unofficially, Rousseff is taking the blame for Brazil's slide into economic decline, mixed with a giant corruption scandal over state oil giant Petrobras. Senator Raimundo Lira, a Temer ally and strong backer of impeachment, told AFP that senators "have already made up their minds and I don't think there will be any change at the vote." A survey published by O Globo newspaper yesterday showed that 52 senators were committed to voting to dismiss Rousseff, with only 19 supporting her and 10 undecided or not polled. A huge metal barricade was set up on the esplanade outside Congress to separate rival demonstrators, with large protests expected on Monday. The charges against her focus on her use of unauthorised state loans to cover budget gaps. Unofficially, Rousseff is taking the blame for Brazil's slide into economic decline, mixed with a giant corruption scandal over state oil giant Petrobras. Although Rousseff herself has not been accused of stealing from Petrobras, many of her close allies on the left, as well as opponents on the right, have been charged. Daunting task Temer, who has served as acting president since May, is hardly more popular than Rousseff. A recent opinion poll found only 14 per cent of Brazilians thought he was doing a good job. However, his centre-right coalition and choice of market-friendly ministers have raised expectations that he can get the economy back on track. If confirmed president by Rousseff's ouster, Temer would face a daunting task: steering Latin America's largest economy out of recession and plugging a budget deficit that has topped 10 per cent of gross domestic product. Brazilian assets have rallied on prospects of a more market-friendly government, with the currency rising around 30 per cent against the dollar this year. Still, investors and members of Temer's fragile coalition are concerned he has yet to implement measures to control the deficit. The economy shrank 3.8 per cent in 2015 and is forecast to drop about 3.3 per cent again this year, a historic recession. Inflation is at about 9 per cent and unemployment at 11 per cent . Brazilian assets have rallied on prospects of a more market-friendly government, with the currency rising around 30 per cent against the dollar this year. ? Temer's right-leaning government has sought to speed up the trial so he can set about restoring confidence in a once-booming economy and remove any doubts about his legitimacy. A draft budget for next year is not expected in Congress until Aug. 31, after the Senate votes, by which time Temer could have more political leverage to push through austerity measures. Investors are concerned Temer might give in to pressure for spending increases such as pay hikes for public employees, including the nation's judges, a demand supported by Lewandowski. Temer has proposed a constitutional limit on spending and a broad reform of Brazil's pension system to reverse a deteriorating fiscal outlook - moves applauded by credit rating agencies that last year stripped the country of its prized investment grade. "While we expect the current administration to have a better chance of getting these reforms through Congress than the previous government, there is still no clear support to approve these measures," Moody's Investors Service said in a client note. If Rousseff is removed, Temer must be sworn in by the Senate. He is then expected to address the nation before heading to the summit of the G20 group of leading economies in China on Sept. 4-5. "I agree that Dilma must leave power. Leaders must be responsible for their actions," said Mara Campos, 50, waiting at a bus stop in Brasilia. "But I am very worried because this trial is traumatic." (WION with inputs from agencies)

Impeachment trial opens against Brazil President Dilma Rousseff

The impeachment trial of Brazil&#39;s suspended president Dilma Rousseff will be&nbsp;opened today. The Senate will hear witnesses for and against Rousseff who has&nbsp;charges of breaking budget laws against her. 
 
Brazil&#39;s first female president, Rousseff will appear before 81 senators on&nbsp;Monday. Her opponents are confident of having more than 54 votes needed to&nbsp;convict her. 
 
The votes that came in late on Tuesday pointed towards Vice President Michel&nbsp;Temer taking over as Brazil&#39;s leader for the rest of the term upto 2018. 
 
This will mark the end of a 13-year-long leftwing Workers Party (PT) rule. 
 
Temer&#39;s right-leaning government expect at least 60 senators to vote against&nbsp;Rousseff. 
 
The next president will face an uphill task of leading the country&#39;s economy out&nbsp;of its recession. 
 
Charges against Rousseff include spending without Congressional approval&nbsp;and manipulating government accounts to disguise the extent of the deficit in&nbsp;the run-up to her 2014 re-election. 
 
Financial markets have rallied on prospects of a more market friendly&nbsp;government, with the real currency rising around 30 per cent against the dollar&nbsp;this year. 
 
Temer&#39;s team has sought to speed up the trial in order to begin the process of&nbsp;restoring confidence in the economy. 
 
Once sworn in by the Senate, the next president is expected to address the&nbsp;nation before heading to the summit of the G20 group of leading economies in&nbsp;Hangzhou, China on September 4-5. 
 
Rousseff, who earlier belonged to a left-wing guerrilla group, has refused to&nbsp;resign to &quot;ensure that she is being ousted illegally.&quot; 
 
&quot;I committed no crime. To stop this happening again, I must go to the Senate to&nbsp;defend Brazil&#39;s democracy, the political views that I advocate and the legitimate&nbsp;rights of the Brazilian people,&quot; she said. 
 
(WION with inputs from agencies)

Rousseff has been charged with spending without Congressional approval?and manipulating government accounts

The impeachment trial of Brazil's suspended president Dilma Rousseff will be opened today. The Senate will hear witnesses for and against Rousseff who has charges of breaking budget laws against her. Brazil's first female president, Rousseff will appear before 81 senators on Monday. Her opponents are confident of having more than 54 votes needed to convict her. The votes that came in late on Tuesday pointed towards Vice President Michel Temer taking over as Brazil's leader for the rest of the term upto 2018. This will mark the end of a 13-year-long leftwing Workers Party (PT) rule. Temer's right-leaning government expect at least 60 senators to vote against Rousseff. The next president will face an uphill task of leading the country's economy out of its recession. Charges against Rousseff include spending without Congressional approval and manipulating government accounts to disguise the extent of the deficit in the run-up to her 2014 re-election. Financial markets have rallied on prospects of a more market friendly government, with the real currency rising around 30 per cent against the dollar this year. Temer's team has sought to speed up the trial in order to begin the process of restoring confidence in the economy. Once sworn in by the Senate, the next president is expected to address the nation before heading to the summit of the G20 group of leading economies in Hangzhou, China on September 4-5. Rousseff, who earlier belonged to a left-wing guerrilla group, has refused to resign to "ensure that she is being ousted illegally." "I committed no crime. To stop this happening again, I must go to the Senate to defend Brazil's democracy, the political views that I advocate and the legitimate rights of the Brazilian people," she said. (WION with inputs from agencies)

Brazil Senate to open Rousseff's impeachment trial

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