The argument phase began in Trump's impeachment trial in the Senate

For the third time in history alone, the US president is facing impeachment, but is expected to be credited in light of Republican supremacy in the Supreme Court.

Live broadcast from the Senate

The argument phase in the impeachment trial of U.S. President Donald Trump opens Tuesday (Tuesday) in the Senate. The trial against the incumbent president, the only third in U.S. history, is expected to end in his acquittal in light of Senate Republican control and the need for a two-thirds majority of a hundred senators to get him out of the White House.

As the trial begins, Trump is staying in Switzerland, where he attends the annual Davos Economic Forum. He describes the impeachment as "fraud" and claims witch hunting. The trial will be overseen by Supreme Court President John Roberts. Prosecutors in the trial are senior Democrats in the House of Representatives, where Trump was ousted last month as part of the Ukraine-Gate affair. Trump's defense team includes former special prosecutor Ken Starr and Jewish attorney Alan Dershowitz.

Trump lands in Davos, today (Photo: Reuters)

US President Donald Trump at the Economic Summit in Davos, Switzerland (Photo: Reuters)

Republicans want to end the trial as soon as possible, and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell unveiled the decision on court rules tonight, which he wants to vote on. The White House and Republicans want to keep Democrats from submitting new evidence that was not presented during the House hearings or calling new witnesses.
Senate Democratic Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said McConnell's decision was a "national disgrace."

He said, "It is clear that Senator McConnell is determined to make it harder to bring witnesses and agree and intend to expedite the trial."
The president's lawyers say the charges against him are unconstitutional and an attempt to "reverse the results" of the 2016 election.

Prosecutor against Clinton and close to Netanyahu: Trump's defense team for Senate trial