What has Mr Trump said?
In a series of tweets, the president accused the Democrats of not wanting to go to trial because their "case is so bad". He tweeted: "So after the Democrats gave me no Due Process in the House, no lawyers, no witnesses, no nothing, they now want to tell the Senate how to run their trial. Actually, they have zero proof of anything, they will never even show up. They want out. I want an immediate trial!" Cheapened the process of impeachment" - Trump reacts at a rally The president said the Democrats did not want Adam Schiff, who led the impeachment process, the Bidens and a CIA whistleblower who sparked the inquiry to testify.Why is there deadlock over the start of the trial?
To get things rolling, the Democrat-controlled House must transmit the articles of impeachment to the Senate. But House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is refusing to do so until the rules of the Senate trial are acceptable to the Democrats. The Senate's Republican leader, Mitch McConnell, will determine the terms of the trial and the Democrats want him to provide details on which witnesses and what testimony will be allowed. Mr McConnell has refused to play ball. "We remain at an impasse," he said, after a brief meeting with the Democrats' Senate minority leader, Chuck Schumer. Mr McConnell has the numbers. There are 53 Republicans in the 100-seat Senate and impeachment would require a two-thirds majority in favour. Nancy Pelosi confirms the votes in the House on Wednesday and warns her party not to celebrate Mr McConnell has called the impeachment process the "most rushed, least thorough and most unfair" in history, signalling the kind of bipartisan rancour expected when the trial starts. The Democrats hope the delay will both increase public opinion for a fuller trial and deny Mr Trump - only the third US president to be impeached - a swift acquittal. The Democrats want at least four current and former White House aides with knowledge of the Ukraine affair to testify. They say the trial has to be fair and that Mr McConnell's comments show he has no plans to make it so.What is the president accused of?
He is accused of having withheld $400m (£307m) of military aid to Ukraine already allocated by Congress, and a White House meeting for Ukraine's new president, until Ukraine looked into potentially damaging material on Joe and Hunter Biden. Hunter worked for a Ukrainian company when Joe Biden was US vice-president. The Democrats say this amounts to an abuse of presidential power, using the office for personal political gain and to the detriment of national security. Mr Trump is also accused of obstructing Congress by refusing to co-operate with the congressional inquiry.DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Latest Stories
-
Ashanti, Nelly are engaged and expecting a baby
35 mins -
New Ghana train on test run involved in accident
41 mins -
World Bank, AfDB partner to provide 300m African’s with electricity access
48 mins -
Ghana wins preliminary ruling in Cassius Mining’s $300m international arbitration
58 mins -
Ghana’s revenue-to-GDP ratio to exceed 17% within next six years, but expenditure to remain flat – IMF
1 hour -
Gborbu Wulomo didn’t marry Naa Okromo – Chieftaincy Minister
1 hour -
Oquaye Jr. says he’s undeterred by ‘propaganda’ twist to viral laundry video
1 hour -
Ghana’s debt-to-GDP ratio to tumble to 69.7% in 2029 – IMF
2 hours -
Interior Ministry imposes 4pm to 7am curfew on Sampa
2 hours -
Child marriage: Teenage girl to be released to her family – Gender Minister-designate
2 hours -
Naa Okromo is 15 years old, still a virgin and not married to Gborbu Wulomo – Government
2 hours -
GhIE condemns intervention by Ashanti Regional Minister in ECG Affairs; commends ECG GM for upholding regulatory standards
2 hours -
GPL: Asantehene tasks Asante Kotoko to do ‘better’ after crucial meeting
2 hours -
Why Sam Jonah can’t trust Ghanaian journos to cover Election 2024 professionally
3 hours -
Laryea Kingston takes over as Black Starlets head coach
3 hours