Senate takes over Trump’s impeachment after House handoff

In a dramatic procession across U.S. Capitol, House Democrats carried formal Trump complained anew Wednesday that it was all a “hoax,” even as fresh details emerged about his efforts in Ukraine.  ceremonial pomp and protocol by lawmakers prosecuting case against Trump moved impeachment out of Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s Democratic-run House to Republican-majority Senate, where president’s team is mounting a defence aiming for swift acquittal.

“Today we will make history,'' Pelosi said as she signed documents, using multiple pens to hand out and mark moment. “This president will be held accountable." Moments later prosecutors walked solemnly through stately hall, filing into Senate back row as clerk of House anunced arrival: “ House has passed House Resolution 798, a resolution appointing and authorizing manrs of impeachment trial of Donald John Trump, president of United States.”

Senate will transform itself into an impeachment court at on Thursday. Constitution calls for Chief Justice John Roberts to preside at trial, ministering oath to senators who will serve as jurors and swear to deliver “impartial justice.”  trial will play out before a deeply divided nation at start of Senate Majority Leer Mitch McConnell pledged to have Senate “rise above petty factionalism” and “factional fervour and serve long-term, best interests of our nation.'' He called it “a difficult time for our country.”

Technically, House was simply tifying Senate of its delivery of articles, with a more formal presentation Thursday. Opening arguments are to begin next Tuesday after Martin Lur King Jr. holiday. Earlier Wednesday, House voted 228-193, almost entirely along party lines, ending a weeks-long delay to deliver charges with a tally reflecting nation's split.  House impeached Trump last month alleging he abused his presidential power by pressuring Ukraine to investigate Democratic rival Joe Biden, using military aid to country as lever. Trump was also charged with obstructing Congress’ ensuing probe. “This is what impeachment is about,″ Pelosi said before vote. “ president violated his oath of office, undermined our national security, jeopardized integrity of our elections.”

Trump's political campaign dismissed House effort as “just a failed attempt to politically dam President Trump leing up to his reelection.” top Republican in House, Kevin McCarthy of California, said Americans will look back on this “s saga” that tried to remove president from office with “weakest case.” president's team expects acquittal with a Senate trial lasting more than two weeks, according to senior ministration officials unauthorized to discuss matter and granted anymity.

That's far shorter than impeachment trial of President Bill Clinton, in 1999, or first one, of President Andrew Johnson, in 1868.As McConnell sets rules for trial, Trump has given mixed messs about wher he prefers lengthy or swift proceeding, and senators are under pressure with emerging new evidence to call more witnesses for testimony. seven-member prosecution team was led by chairmen of House impeachment proceedings, Reps. am Schiff of Intelligence Committee and Jerrold Nler of Judiciary Committee, two of Pelosi’s top lieutenants.

"President Trump gravely abused power of his office," Nler said. “He did all this for his personal political gain.”Ahe of Wednesday's session, Schiff released new records from Lev Parnas, an associate of Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani, about Ukraine strategy, including an exchange with ar man about surveilling later-fired Ambassor Marie Yovavitch.

Schiff said new evidence should bring more pressure on McConnell, who is reluctant to allow witnesses to testify and prefers swift acquittal. White House has instructed officials t to comply with House subpoenas for testimony and documents.“ challenge is to get a fair trial,” Schiff said in an interview with Associated Press. “It shouldn't be a challenge — if senators are really going to live up to ir oath to be impartial, y’ll want a fair trial. That’s obviously t where Mitch McConnell is coming from.”

manrs are a diverse group with legal, law enforcement and military experience, including Hakeem Jeffries of New York, Sylvia Garcia of Texas, Val Demings of Florida, Jason Crow of Coloro and Zoe Lofgren of California.Two are freshmen lawmakers — Crow a former Army Ranger who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, Garcia a former judge in Houston. Demings is former police chief of Orlando and Jeffries is a lawyer and member of party leership. Lofgren has rare credential of having worked on congressional staff investigation of President Richard Nixon's impeachment — he resigned before full House voted on charges — and n being an elected lawmaker during Bill Clinton's.

For roll call, all but one Democrat, Rep. Collin Peterson of Minnesota, voted to transmit articles. All Republicans voted against. One former Republican-turned-independent, Rep. Justin Amash of Michigan, joined Democrats.McConnell faces competing interests from his party for more witnesses, from centrists who are siding with Democrats on need to hear testimony and conservatives mounting Trump's defence. Senate Republicans signalled y would reject idea of simply voting to dismiss articles of impeachment against Trump, as Trump himself has suggested. McConnell agreed he does t have votes to do that.

Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine is leing an effort among some Republicans, including Mitt Romney of Utah, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, to consider Senate witnesses. She told reporters she was satisfied rules will allow votes on that. Romney said he wants to hear from John Bolton, former national security viser at White House, who ors have said raised alarms about alternative foreign policy toward Ukraine being run by Giuliani.

Those or any four senators could force an outcome. Republicans control chamber, 53-47, and are all but certain to acquit Trump. But it takes just 51 votes during trial to approve rules or call witnesses. It also would take only 51 senators to vote to dismiss charges against Trump. Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky and or Republicans want to subpoena Biden and his son, Hunter, who served on board of a gas company in Ukraine, Burisma, while his far was vice president.

McConnell prefers to model Trump's trial partly on process used for Clinton's impeachment trial in 1999, which considered witnesses later. McConnell is hesitant to call new witnesses who would prolong trial and put vulnerable senators who are up for reelection in 2020 in a bind with tough choices. At same time, he wants to give those same senators ample room to show voters y are listening.