Democrats blamed Senate: Trump's pressure on Ukraine - a corrupt plan

In their opening arguments as part of the impeachment lawsuit against the US president, his opponents warned that failure to do so could undermine Washington's international standing. Trump rejected Davos' allegations: "My team did a good job." 44% of Americans believe he should be ousted

Democrats blamed Senate: Trump's pressure on Ukraine - a corrupt plan

On the second day of the Senate impeachment process, U.S. President Donald Trump (Wednesday) was accused by Democrats of corruptly trying to pressure Ukraine to help him get reelected, in what he was dubbed "Ukraine-Gate." The accusers warned that America's international prestige would be damaged if the Senate acquitted him of the charges. Trump rejects the accusations against him, telling reporters in Switzerland where he is staying at the World Economic Forum in Davos that Democrats do not have enough evidence to prove his guilt and oust him from the White House.

In the opening speech of the president's impeachment speech, following various procedural rallies, Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff accused Trump of urging Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelinsky last year to investigate corruption allegations against former Vice President Joe Biden and his son. "To implement this corrupt plan, President Trump has pressured President Ukraine to publicly declare an investigation into two unfounded charges that will help Trump's presidential campaign in 2020," Schiff said.

Democrats have argued that Trump was trying to find "dirt" on Biden, a Democratic primary leader in the US presidential nomination in November, and his son who held a position with a Ukrainian gas company to help run for office.

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"Danger to Democracy." Adam Schiff in the Senate (Photo: From the Senate's official broadcast / AP)

US Rep. Adam Schiff argues for U.S. President Donald Trump's impeachment of Senate, Jan. 22, 2020 (Photo: From Senate Official Broadcasting, AP)

The House of Representatives, controlled by Democratic delegates, voted for Trump's ouster last month, accusing him of misusing his power and disrupting congressional work for his conduct with Ukraine and failing to investigate the issue. Now, the proceeding continues for the Senate to decide on the issue.

A Reuters / Ipsos poll released tonight showed cross-party support from the American public in summoning witnesses to the Senate impeachment process. According to the survey, about 72% of respondents agreed that "witnesses with first-hand information on impeachment charges should be allowed" to testify - 84% of Democrats and 69% of Republicans.

Just before the primaries, the Democratic Party in civil war for its character

The trial may be over by next week

Trump denies any allegations of misconduct, and his Senate Republican colleagues say his conduct is inconsistent with the description of "serious crimes and misdemeanors" cited in the United States Constitution as grounds for impeaching a U.S. president. It is almost certain that Trump will be credited by a majority of the Republican-dominated Senate, with a two-thirds majority of House members required to oust. However, the effect of the procedure on his attempt at re-election is unclear.

"Nothing is more dangerous to democracy than a leader who thought he could operate under immunity, free from the need to be responsible for his actions. Nothing, except a congressional willing to allow it," said Schiff, who leads the Democratic Prosecution Team. With mentions of one of the founding fathers of the United States, Alexander Hamilton, and of Republican President Donald Reagan, Schiff argued that the entire world is watching the process.

"How can any country trust the United States as a model of governance if it affirms political corruption and an invitation to outside intervention that we have long sought to eradicate in growing democracies around the world?", He wondered. Schiff also said senators would also "undermine our global status" if they did not expel Trump after three years into his tumultuous tenure.

"They don't have the stuff." Trump in Davos, this week (Photo: Reuters)

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

This is the third presidential impeachment procedure in U.S. history. Opening days focused on debates around Democrats' requests for witnesses and documents for the hearing. The start of the process on Tuesday attracted 11 million TV viewers, a figure lower than the opening of the House of Commons impeachment, which drew about 13.8 million viewers, according to ratings. In all, Democrats have three days to present their claims, and then Trump's defense team will also have three days of arguments, and the trial could be over by next week.

The Trump administration did not respond to the summons, calling on officials such as former national security adviser John Bolton and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo not to attend the impeachment process. Trump told reporters in Davos that he was pleased with the way the procedure was being conducted. "I think my team did a very good job. But honestly, we have all the stuff. They don't have the stuff," Trump said.

Val Demings, a Democratic representative in the House of Representatives and one of the Democratic team members, said that Trump's remark was nothing but boasting of congressional work. "This morning, the president not only confessed, but bragged: 'Honestly, we have all the stuff, they don't have the stuff,'" she said. However, a senior government official, who was asked to explain what Trump means, said: "What he clearly said is that all the facts are on our side, and those facts show he did nothing wrong."

The trial may be over by next week. Capitol Hill, yesterday

Capitol Hill on the second day of US President Donald Trump's impeachment proceeding in the Senate, January 22, 2020 (Photo: Reuters)

In addition, Trump said his summons to Bolton's testimony would raise national security concerns. "He knows some of my thoughts, he knows what I think about leaders. What happens if he reveals what I think about a certain leader who is not very positive?", Trump wondered. Bolton, a foreign affairs hawk fired by Trump last year, scornfully described the attempt to put pressure on Ukraine as a "drug deal" and testimony on his part may embarrass the president.

A parade of present and past senior officials in the House of Commons impeachment testified to a concerted effort to put pressure on Ukraine. However, these televised hearings have only slightly changed public opinion for and against Trump's ouster. Reuters / Ephesus polls since the start of the investigation have shown Democrats and Republicans responding according to their party's position. The latest poll, published tonight, found that about 44 percent of adult U.S. citizens believe Trump should be ousted. By contrast, 33% believe the charges against the US president should be rejected.

Trump and his defense team have said there is no pressure on them and that all Democrats' accusations are based on rumors aimed at reversing Trump's 2016 presidential election.

(First Update: 23:48)