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Trump impeachment: 'Toxic' move the result of 'partisan rage', McConnell says Trump impeachment: 'Toxic' move the result of 'partisan rage', McConnell says
(32 minutes later)
US President Trump's impeachment is the "most rushed, least thorough and most unfair" in history, the Senate's Republican leader Mitch McConnell says.US President Trump's impeachment is the "most rushed, least thorough and most unfair" in history, the Senate's Republican leader Mitch McConnell says.
The Democrat-led House of Representatives had let its "partisan rage" create a "toxic precedent that will echo into the future", he added.The Democrat-led House of Representatives had let its "partisan rage" create a "toxic precedent that will echo into the future", he added.
On Wednesday, the House voted to impeach Mr Trump on two charges - that the president had abused his power and that he had obstructed Congress. But Democrat Chuck Schumer said Mr McConnell had offered no defence of the president's actions.
He now faces a trial in the Senate. On Wednesday, the House voted to impeach Mr Trump on two charges.
However, the Senate is controlled by the Republicans, so it is highly unlikely Mr Trump will be removed from power. The charges are that the president abused his power and obstructed Congress.
Mr Trump now faces a trial in the Senate - but the Senate is controlled by the Republicans, so it is highly unlikely he will be removed from power.
Nearly all Democrats in the House of Representatives voted for the charges and every Republican against.Nearly all Democrats in the House of Representatives voted for the charges and every Republican against.
On Wednesday, Mr Trump said the votes in the House had been motivated by "envy and hatred and rage".On Wednesday, Mr Trump said the votes in the House had been motivated by "envy and hatred and rage".
What did McConnell say?What did McConnell say?
In his speech to Congress, Mr McConnell warned that the 12-week investigation could damage the institutions of US democracy and said that the House had failed to prove that Mr Trump had broken any law. In his speech, Mr McConnell warned that the 12-week investigation could damage the institutions of US democracy and said the House had failed to prove that Mr Trump had broken any law.
He has already indicated that he is ready to co-operate with the White House to ensure a swift trial for the president in the Senate. Democrats had made up their mind to impeach Mr Trump before he was even inaugurated as president, he said, and theirs was "an impeachment in search of articles".
But Democrats are unhappy at the way the trial could be held. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has now indicated it might delay sending the articles of impeachment to the Senate, in order to bargain on the terms of the proceedings. The investigation of Mr Trump had taken far less time than the impeachment investigations into President Bill Clinton and President Richard Nixon, he said.
"This is by far the thinnest basis for any House passed presidential impeachment in American history. The thinnest, and the weakest. And nothing else even comes close," he said.
Mr McConnell has already indicated he is ready to co-operate with the White House to ensure a swift trial for the president in the Senate.
But he has said there is no chance the Senate will convict Mr Trump. He has also indicated that, if there is disagreement with Senate Democrats over the way the trial is held, he could use the Republican majority in the Senate to end the trial early without witness testimony.
What do Senate Democrats say?
Chuck Schumer, the Senate's leading Democrat, responded to Mr McConnell by saying he had not defended President Trump's actions.
"The Republican leader could not rebut the accusations against the president. He did not advance an argument in defence of the president's conduct on the merits, that in itself is a damning indictment of the state of the president's defence," he said.
He also criticised the idea that the impeachment trial could take place without witnesses being heard.
"If the House case is so weak, why is leader McConnell so afraid of witnesses and documents?" he said.
Mr Schumer said Democrats wanted a "fair and speedy" trial, with four witnesses being called and time limits on each stage of the process, and said he would now seek agreement with Mr McConnell on how the trial would be held.
Democratic concern over the rules of the trial have already prompted House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to indicate that the House could delay sending the articles of impeachment to the Senate.
This could put off the trial for an indefinite period, denying Mr Trump his expected acquittal.This could put off the trial for an indefinite period, denying Mr Trump his expected acquittal.
Want to find out more?Want to find out more?
Do you have any questions about the impeachment process you'd like us to answer?Do you have any questions about the impeachment process you'd like us to answer?
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