Republicans: Time for White House to make its case

Senate Mirity leer Chuck Schumer says Democratic House Manrs, wrapping up ir opening arguments in President Donald Trump's impeachment trial, "decimates Trump and Republicans argument," against ir obstruction charges.

president is being tried in Senate after House impeached him last month, accusing him of abusing his office by asking Ukraine to probe Bidens while withholding military aid from a U.S. ally at war with Russia. second article of impeachment accuses Trump of obstructing Congress by refusing to turn over documents or allow officials to testify in House probe.

Senate Republicans say y are looking forward to president's legal counsel starting ir defense Saturday."I'm looking forward to White House tomorrow, starting to set record straight, too, because this has just been partisan," said Florida Republican Rick Scott.

Both Schumer, and Trump lawyer Jay Sekulow were asked about reports that Trump can be heard in a taped 2018 conversation saying he wants to get rid of U.S. ambassor to Ukraine, whose removal a year later emerged as an issue in Trump's impeachment. president was talking with a small group that included Lev Parnas, an associate of his personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani, according to a report Friday about audio recording.

Trump demanded removal of Ambassor Marie Yovavitch at an April 2018 dinner at his hotel in Washington, according to ABC News, which reported on recording. recording appears to contrict president's statements that he did t kw Parnas, a key figure in investigation.

ABC said a speaker who appears to be Trump says on recording, "Get rid of her! Get her out tomorrow. I don't care. Get her out tomorrow. Take her out. OK? Do it.""As long as it's verified, this is kind of despicable conduct that president engs in, despicable kind of conduct," Schumer told reporters.

"Look, re is a ambassor serves at pleasure of president," Trump attorney Sekulow said."You kw, who said that? ambassor herself," he said. White House denied any suggestion of presidential wrongdoing.

Yovavitch, who was viewed as an obstacle to probes into Biden and his son, Hunter, was t recalled from her position until following April.She said decision was based on "unfounded and false claims by people with clearly questionable motives" that she was disloyal to Trump.

(Im Credit: AP)