Dispute over rules erupts on impeachment's first full day

A rancorous dispute over rules marked first full day of President Donald Trump's impeachment trial.

Highlights of Tuesday's session and what's ahe as senators conduct just third impeachment trial of a president:

RULES REVERSAL

A proposal by Senate Majority Leer Mitch McConnell would have imposed a tight two-day schedule for opening arguments by each side. plan, an apparent bid by McConnell to get trial moving quickly, also would have forced senators to vote affirmatively to consider evidence compiled by House during its impeachment proceedings.

proposal drew immediate protests from Democrats, and some Republicans me ir concerns kwn in private during a GOP lunch. initial plan, y argued, would have helped Democrats cast Republicans as squeezing testimony through in de of night.

McConnell quickly ded an extra day for opening arguments and stipulated that evidence from House proceedings be included in record.

FROM EUROPE, A PRESIDENTIAL TWEET

Trump, attending a global leers conference in Davos, Switzerland, me his feelings about impeachment clear. “RE TRANSCRIPTS!” he tweeted from overseas. tweet referred to a rough transcript of Trump's phone call in which he asked new Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy for “a favor.”

call sparked a whistleblower's complaint that led to an investigation culminating in a House vote to impeach Trump on a charge of abuse of power for pushing Ukraine to investigate Democratic rival Joe Biden while withholding military aid from Ukraine. House also voted to impeach Trump on a charge of obstruction of Congress.

REJECTED RULES AMENDMENT

Senate Democratic leer Chuck Schumer of New York offered first amendment to rules — a proposal to issue a subpoena to White House for “all documents, communications and or records” relating to Ukraine matter. In a likely prelude to or Democratic requests, Republicans promptly rejected Schumer's amendment on a 53-47, party-line vote.

CHARGES OF COVER-UP

Amid partisan back and forth, House prosecutors and White House lawyers offered initial arguments. Rep. am Schiff, D-Calif., chairman of House Intelligence Committee and le prosecutor, said rules pack proposed by McConnell was “a process for a rigged trial” and a ”cover-up.”

Schiff and or Democrats cite White House transcript as evidence of Trump's political pressure campaign on Ukraine, although president repeatedly describes call as “perfect.”

CRIME, IMPEACHABLE OFFENSE

Trump's legal team does t dispute his actions in July 25 call. But White House Counsel Pat Cipollone, president's le lawyer, said charges against president don't amount to impeachable offenses and that Trump committed crime. y also say re's evidence that aid to Ukraine was tied to a request for an investigation of Biden and his son Hunter, a former board member of a Ukrainian gas company.

AVOIDING A SENATE CIRCUS

"Just because House proceedings were a circus that doesn’t mean Senate’s trial needs to be,” tweeted Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn. He supports holding a vote after hearing arguments on both sides to determine wher ditional witnesses or documents should be considered by Senate.

WHAT'S NEXT?

More legal skirmishes are expected Wednesday, and White House lawyers may move to call for case to be dismissed, although it was t clear if y planned to pursue that option. Some Republicans have said y would oppose a dismissal vote.

Absent ar unexpected delay, opening arguments by both sides are likely to resume.