Opening Arguments Begin In Trump Impeachment Trial At US Senate

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 23rd January, 2020) US House of Representatives prosecutors on Wednesday began opening arguments in the Trump impeachment trial in the Senate.

"President [Donald] Trump solicited foreign interference in our democratic elections, abusing the power of his office to seek help from abroad to improve his re-election prospects at home," Congressman Adam Schiff, who is leading the team of US House impeachment managers, said. "When he was caught, he used the powers of that office to obstruct the investigation into his own misconduct."

On December 18, Democrats on the House of Representatives impeached Trump on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. Democrats claimed Trump requested that Ukraine investigate his political rival, former Vice President Joe Biden, by leveraging congressionally approved military assistance to Kiev.

The House impeachment managers and Trump's legal defense will have 24 hours each to present their arguments over the period of three days, beginning on Wednesday.

The US Constitution requires a two-thirds majority - 67 votes - in the Senate to convict and remove from office an impeached president.

If Trump is found guilty, he is removed from office and Vice President Mike Pence would be sworn-in as US president.

Trump has repeatedly said he has broken no laws and characterized the impeachment is a hoax and a political witch hunt by Democrats to reverse the results of the 2016 presidential election.