Washington (AFP) - The historic impeachment trial of Donald Trump began in a bitterly divided Senate on Thursday with a solemn reading to a hushed chamber of the charges facing the combative 45th US president.
Senate Sergeant of Arms Michael Stenger opened the proceedings with a warning to the 100 senators who will decide whether the 73-year-old chief executive should be removed from office.
"Hear ye, hear ye, hear ye," Stenger said after the seven members of the House of Representatives who will act as prosecutors marched from the House to the Senate chamber.
"All persons are commanded to keep silent, on pain of imprisonment, while the House of Representatives is exhibiting to the Senate of the United States, articles of impeachment against Donald John Trump, President of the United States," the sergeant at arms said.
Adam Schiff, the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee who will serve as lead prosecutor for the trial, then read out the two articles of impeachment accusing Trump of "high crimes and misdemeanors."
The Democratic-controlled House, in an overwhelmingly partisan vote, impeached Trump on December 18 for abuse of power in his dealings with Ukraine and obstruction of Congress.
US Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts is to be sworn in shortly after 2:00 pm (1900 GMT) to preside over the impeachment trial, just the third in American history.
Roberts, 64, who was appointed to the nation's top court by president George W. Bush, will then deliver an oath to the 100 senators who will swear to administer "impartial justice."
The proceedings will then adjourn and the trial will get underway "in earnest" on Tuesday, according to Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell.
Impeachment rules require a two-thirds Senate majority to convict and remove a president and Trump's acquittal is widely expected in the Republican-dominated Senate.
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04.19.2024