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Trump impeachment trial starts with rule wrangling in Senate Trump impeachment trial opens as senators clash over rules
(about 5 hours later)
The Senate impeachment trial of US President Donald Trump has begun, with Democrats and Republicans wrangling over the rules. The US Senate has rejected repeated Democratic attempts to secure new evidence in President Donald Trump's impeachment as his trial began.
Republican Senate Majority leader Mitch McConnell wants to block subpoenaing key witnesses or documents. Senate Majority leader Mitch McConnell meanwhile backed off on a plan to fast-track the hearings after coming under pressure from fellow Republicans.
The Democrats say this will be no less than a cover-up. Democrats said this would have been no less than a cover-up.
Mr Trump is charged with abusing his presidential power with leverage over Ukraine, and of obstructing Congress as it looked into his conduct. Mr Trump is charged with abuse of power and obstructing the congressional inquiry. He denies wrongdoing.
He denies all the charges. At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Tuesday, Mr Trump dismissed the accusations against him as "just a hoax".
Senators have taken oaths to act as impartial jurors, hearing arguments for six hours a day, six days a week in a trial presided over by the US Chief Justice, John Roberts.Senators have taken oaths to act as impartial jurors, hearing arguments for six hours a day, six days a week in a trial presided over by the US Chief Justice, John Roberts.
It is only the third time in US history that a president is facing an impeachment trial and it is unclear how long it will last.It is only the third time in US history that a president is facing an impeachment trial and it is unclear how long it will last.
BBC North America reporter Anthony Zurcher says the chances of a conviction in the Republican-majority Senate are slim to none. Mr Trump was impeached last month by the Democratic-led House of Representatives.
What were the opening manoeuvres? But the Senate, which is controlled by his fellow Republicans, is not expected to convict the president and remove him from office.
They have been as partisan and feisty as expected. How were Democrats blocked?
The Senate majority leader wants ground rules that block subpoenaing key witnesses or documents as the sides make their case. By party-line votes of 53-47, the Senate rejected three Democratic bids on Tuesday to obtain documents and evidence in the impeachment trial.
"The basic structure we're proposing is just as eminently fair and even-handed," Mr McConnell said. Senators blocked a motion from Democratic leader Chuck Schumer to subpoena White House files related to Mr Trump's dealings with Ukraine.
In his opening statement, Adam Schiff, the House Democrat leading the impeachment case, said most Americans "do not believe there will be a fair trial. They don't believe the Senate will be impartial. They believe the result is pre-cooked". They also rejected follow-up motions demanding a subpoena of records and documents from the state department and White House budget office.
He said Mr McConnell wanted the trial to "go away as quickly as possible", adding: "It's completely backwards, trial before evidence." In his opening statement, Adam Schiff, the House Democrat leading the impeachment case, said most Americans "do not believe there will be a fair trial".
Mr Trump's Republicans have been looking to shorten the trial as much as possible. The president's legal team had earlier demanded he be immediately acquitted, calling the trial "a dangerous perversion of the Constitution". "They don't believe the Senate will be impartial," he added. "They believe the result is pre-cooked."
Mr McConnell had proposed condensing the opening arguments from three days to two, backed by the president's lawyers. The president's legal team had earlier demanded he be immediately acquitted, calling the trial "a dangerous perversion of the constitution".
But after a meeting with senators, including some Republicans, Mr McConnell agreed to three days for opening arguments. How did Mitch McConnell come under pressure?
Democrats had complained Americans would be kept in the dark. Backed by the president's lawyers, Mr McConnell had initially planned to condense the opening arguments from three days to two.
But after a meeting with senators, including some Republicans, Mr McConnell agreed on Tuesday to three days for opening arguments.
The senators had expressed concern about how middle-of-the-night sessions would look to US voters.
White House Counsel Pat Cipollone, the president's lead lawyer, said: "It's a fair process. There is absolutely no case."White House Counsel Pat Cipollone, the president's lead lawyer, said: "It's a fair process. There is absolutely no case."
Democrats said the president would "rather discuss anything other than what he actually did". Several more days of procedural tangles are expected.
Votes on trial rules could take place later on Tuesday, including on whether witnesses such as former National Security Adviser John Bolton can be called. Democrats want current and former Trump administration officials such as ex-National Security Adviser John Bolton to testify.
But several days of procedural tangles are expected. But Republicans are postponing debate over witnesses and documents until later in the trial.
What are the charges?What are the charges?
First, the president is accused of seeking help from Ukraine's government to help himself get re-elected in November.First, the president is accused of seeking help from Ukraine's government to help himself get re-elected in November.
It is claimed that, during a call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, he held back military aid in exchange for an investigation into Hunter Biden - the son of Mr Trump's political rival, Joe Biden, and a former member of the board of Ukrainian energy firm Burisma. It is claimed that, during a call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, he held back military aid as he sought an anti-corruption investigation into Democratic White House candidate Joe Biden, whose son, Hunter, held a board position with a Ukrainian energy firm, Burisma.
The second allegation is that, by refusing to allow White House staff to testify at the impeachment hearings last year, Mr Trump obstructed Congress.The second allegation is that, by refusing to allow White House staff to testify at the impeachment hearings last year, Mr Trump obstructed Congress.
The Senate is hearing the case as the Democrat-led House voted to impeach Mr Trump on 18 December. The Senate is hearing the case as the Democratic-led House voted to impeach Mr Trump on 18 December.