Democrats to focus on legality for removing Trump

0
26

Accra, Jan. 23, (UPI/GNA) – Democratic
managers will resume their opening presentations Thursday at the Senate
impeachment trial of President Donald Trump.

The seven managers, who are acting as the de
facto prosecutors in the Senate, are expected to focus on the Constitution and
lay out the legal grounds for Trump’s removal from office. They spent about
eight hours Wednesday detailing the first article of impeachment — arguing the
president abused his power last year by withholding hundreds of millions of dollars
in military aid to pressure Ukraine to investigate Democratic presidential
candidate Joe Biden.

Thursday’s session — Democrats’ second of
three days to make their opening statements — will begin at 1 p.m. EST.

Manager Rep. Adam Schiff, who gave Democrats’
opening remarks Wednesday, said they plan to “apply the facts to the law
as it relates to the president’s abuse of power.”

Democratic managers are expected to take
eight hours per day to fulfill the 24 hours they’re allotted to make their
opening presentation before Trump’s White House attorneys make their case, most
likely on Saturday. They will continue their opening remarks Monday and Tuesday
before the questioning stage begins mid-next week. After that, the off-ramp
stage will consider motions, including any by the White House to dismiss the
case and those to include witnesses.

Trump attorney Jay Sekulow indicated
Wednesday, however, the president’s defense team will not seek to dismiss the
case.

“I want to let them try their
case,” he told reporters. “And we want to try our case because we
believe without a question the president will be acquitted. There is not a
doubt.”

Wednesday’s session followed a marathon
fight to set the rules on Tuesday, during which Republicans defeated nearly a
dozen Democratic amendments — including those to include key administration
witnesses like former national security adviser John Bolton. Senate Democratic
leader Charles Schumer assailed his GOP counterpart, Sen. Mitch McConnell, and
accused him of continuing a cover-up in behalf of Trump.

Trump, who returned to the United States
Wednesday after attending the World Economic Forum in Switzerland, said he
would like to see witnesses like Bolton appear at the trial, but said it’s out
of the question due to national security concerns.

GNA