Democrats from the U.S. House of Representatives that will argue the case to remove Donald Trump as president of the United States on Saturday filed a 111-page brief outlining their reasons for impeaching Trump. The Senate impeachment trial begins January 21.
Democrats will have to contend with Trump's team of lawyers and the Republican leadership in the GOP-controlled Senate that wants a speedy end to the trial without the need to call witnesses. GOP sources quoted by media are saying Republicans are talking about ending the impeachment trial in as little as two weeks.
The Democrat-controlled House on two charges impeached trump Dec. 18, 2019: abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. These twin charges remain central to the Democrat's argument the Senate should remove Trump from office. The brief asserts Trump committed high crimes and misdemeanors, and charges him with abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. It presents the evidence and legal analysis Democrats intend to present, and was compiled by the seven Democrats serving as impeachment managers.
The brief describes Trump's conduct as "the Framers' worst nightmare" in arguing he should be removed from office. It said Trump's ongoing pattern of misconduct demonstrates he's an immediate threat to the U.S. and the rule of law. Because of this, it's imperative the Senate convict and remove him from office now, and permanently bar him from holding federal office.
Launched in September, the Democrats' impeachment case rests on the allegations that Trump abused his office by withholding nearly $400 million in military aid and a visit to the White House to pressure Ukraine's leaders to open a pair of anti-corruption investigations that might have helped him politically.
Central to these twin charges is the fact Trump is guilty of pressuring Ukraine through its president, Volodymyr Zelensky, to investigate former vice president Joe Biden (who has a good chance of becoming Trump's foe in November) by withholding Congressionally-mandated military aid to this country.
"The evidence overwhelmingly establishes that he is guilty of both," said the Democrats in their paper. "The only remaining question is whether the members of the Senate will accept and carry out the responsibility placed on them by the Framers of our Constitution and their constitutional Oaths. History will judge each Senator's willingness to rise above partisan differences, view the facts honestly, and defend the Constitution."
Democrats and their allies are concerned about remarks from Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) they will be biased in Trump's favor during the Senate trial. These men also have no intention of sitting as fair and impartial jurors despite taking an oath before Supreme Court chief justice John Roberts to do just that.
Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) told media Saturday that McConnell is expected to present a resolution allowing Trump's lawyers to motion to immediately dismiss the impeachment charges during the Senate impeachment trial.
"I am familiar with the resolution as it stood a day or two ago," said Hawley. "My understanding is that the resolution will give the president's team the option to either move to judgment or to move to dismiss at a meaningful time."
Hawley also said he will be "very, very surprised" if the final resolution doesn't give Trump's lawyers that ability and that he might not vote for it.
