Published 11:23 IST, January 21st 2020
Trump's lawyers call impeachment a 'dangerous perversion' in trial brief
Trump's lawyers called his impeachment by the House unconstitutional and a 'dangerous perversion' of the United States constitution. Trial to start from today.
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US President Donald Trump's legal representatives on January 20 submitted a trial brief (a written legal document based on arguments party intends to present at trial). According to reports, Trump's lawyers called his impeachment by House unconstitutional and a 'dangerous perversion' of United States constitution.
However, House manrs (elected to present case to Senate) responded to an earlier filing and said that Trump was involved in corrupt practices to cheat in upcoming Presidential elections. According to reports, Donald Trump's impeachment trial is going to start on January 21. It will first begin with a debate based on rules that will govern trial which will be looked over by Chief Justice of United States Supreme court, John Roberts.
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Trump's legal team questions basis of trial
According to reports, in Trump's trial brief, his legal representatives questioned basis of impeachment trial. y stated that two articles based on impeachment were approved by a Democratic majority, a result of a pre-determined conclusion. While talking to a local media outlet, a person working with Trump's legal team said that process was rigged from start and that Donald Trump was t part of anything corrupt and had done thing wrong.
President's trial brief stated that impeachment articles were a result of an unethical process that restricted Trump from exercising his basic right. However, trial brief submitted by Impeachment manrs accused Trump of unethically using his powers as a President to pressurise a foreign country to meddle with elections for his personal benefit, adding that his actions put National security at risk.
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Impeachment Articles
two articles Article 1: abuse of power and Article 2: obstructions of Congress are impeachment articles. Articled 1 has accused Trump of misusing his power to pressurise Kyiv to give evidence on former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden. Article 2 has accused Trump of obstructing Congress by t allowing top officials in his administration to testify. However, Trump's legal team stated that President had valid reasons and authority to ask Ukraine to give him information on Biden and his son.
Trump’s defence team got a mir setback when federal watchdog, Government Accountability Office (GAO), confirmed that President violated law by withholding Congressionally-approved military aid to Ukraine.
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watchdog said in a statement on January 16, “Faithful execution of law does t permit President to substitute his own policy priorities for those that Congress has enacted into law. OMB withheld funds for a policy reason, which is t permitted under Impoundment Control Act (ICA).”
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(With inputs from ncies)
11:23 IST, January 21st 2020