Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


After Lengthy Rules Debate, Trump Impeachment Trial Moves to Opening
Statements

VOA News

   After a marathon day spent debating the rules for U.S. President Donald
   Trump's impeachment trial, the U.S. Senate will convene Wednesday to
   hear the first day of opening arguments from a group of House of
   Representatives members making the case Trump should be removed from
   office.

   Just before 2 a.m. on Capitol Hill, the Senate voted along party lines
   53-47 to adopt the set of rules put forth by Majority Leader Mitch
   McConnell.

   That vote followed a series of debates about amendments offered by the
   minority Democrats on whether to subpoena documents and testimony from
   Trump administration officials whose requested appearances before House
   committees during the impeachment investigation were blocked by the
   White House on executive privilege grounds.

   Republicans used their majority to reject each amendment, with all but
   one following the same 53-47 split between the two parties in the
   chamber. A single proposed amendment met a 52-48 defeat.