Democrats blast Trump at impeachment trial as threat to US democracy
US Democratic lawmakers prosecuting President Donald Trump in his Senate impeachment trial have urged senators to convict and remove the Republican president from office.
Even with acquittal seemingly assured, Democrats on Monday called Trump a man with no moral compass that must be removed to protect US democracy.
US Representative Adam Schiff, a Democratic member in the lower chamber of Congress, wrapped up closing arguments as the US Senate began the final phase of Trump’s impeachment trial.
The Democratic-controlled House of Representative impeached Trump in December, charging him with abusing power by pressuring Ukraine to probe political rival Joe Biden, and then obstructing their congressional inquiry.
Schiff, who leads a team of seven House members responsible for presenting the impeachment case against Trump in the Senate, said the president has undermined the integrity of US elections and invite foreign interference in American affairs.
“We have proven Donald Trump guilty. Now do impartial justice and convict him,” Schiff told the 100-member Senate.
“He has betrayed our national security and he will do so again. He has compromised our elections and he will do so again. You will not change him. You cannot constrain him,” Schiff said.
On Wednesday, the Republican-controlled Senate is set to vote on whether to remove Trump from office. The Senate is almost certain to acquit the president, as a two-thirds majority is required to remove Trump and none of its 53 Republicans have indicated they will vote to convict.
Several Republican senators have said that what Trump did was inappropriate but not impeachable. The president says he is the victim of an unlawful Democratic effort to derail his campaign for re-election.
Trump’s lawyers on Monday called the case against the Republican president politically motivated, reckless and baseless.
“The president has done nothing wrong,” White House Counsel Pat Cipollone added. “We can, together, end the era of impeachment.”
Testimony from former and current government officials indicate that Trump, his personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, and others pressed Ukraine to announce investigations of opponents that would benefit him politically.
Trump's White House refused to cooperate in the congressional inquiry, withholding documents and key witnesses in a bruising contest with lawmakers.
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