01/22/2020 08:18
(Act. 22.01.2020 08:20)
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More than ten hour session of the chamber
© APA (AFP / GETTY)
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After an almost 13-hour debate, the Senate has set the procedure for impeachment against President Donald Trump. The Chamber of Congress passed a Wednesday night (local time) majority of Republicans with a procedural resolution passed by Republican majority leader Mitch McConnell.
Accordingly, the prosecutors and the defense are each given up to 24 hours over three days for their opening pleadings. Then the senators should be given the opportunity to ask questions in writing. Only then – in the coming week – should the Senate decide whether to summon witnesses or not.
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The Democrats had tried unsuccessfully for several hours at the meeting to get the Senate to summon witnesses and request documents for the trial. The Republicans, however, all fended off these advances with their majority of votes.
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Trump is only the third president in US history to be impeached in the Senate. Democrats in the US House of Representatives have charged him with abuse of power and interference with Congress investigations. The decision on these allegations lies with the Senate, which takes on the role of a court in impeachment proceedings.
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