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The historic impeachment trial of US President Donald Trump opened with fireworks Tuesday as Democrats angrily accused Senate Republicans of seeking a “cover-up” without witnesses or new evidence.
With the US leader facing potential removal from office for abuse of power, his close ally Mitch McConnell laid out ground rules that would block subpoenaing key witnesses or documents while each side makes its case — potentially crippling prosecutors’ arguments.
Flexing his solid 53-47 majority, the Republican Senate leader also made clear he would summarily block any Democratic attempts to change his rules.
“The basic structure we’re proposing is just as eminently fair and even-handed,” McConnell said.
Adam Schiff, the leader of the House impeachment managers prosecuting Trump, countered that the process “makes no sense” for a trial, and was designed instead to ensure evidence is never heard and Trump is exculpated.
McConnell’s rules aim to make the case “go away as quickly as possible to cover up his misdeeds,” Schiff said in his opening presentation on the Senate floor.
“It’s completely backwards, trial before evidence,” he said.
“Most Americans don’t believe there will be a fair trial.”
Trump was impeached on December 18 by the House of Representatives, and formally charged on the floor of the Senate last week with abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.
It is only the third time a US president has endured an impeachment trial, after Bill Clinton in 1999 and Andrew Johnson in 1868.
