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The first public hearings in the impeachment proceedings of the US president will take place next week, Wednesday and Friday. It is the ambassador in Ukraine Bill Taylor who will be auditioned first. In camera, he confirmed the pressure exerted by the White House on the Ukrainian presidency.
With our correspondence in Washington, Anne Corpet
This is the beginning of the big show: Wednesday, millions of Americans will be watching their television screens to attend the first public hearings by Congress of the impeachment procedure. Democrats want to go fast and hit hard. Bill Taylor , who will open the ball, is the first diplomat to say that Donald Trump has blackmailed his Ukrainian counterpart for his own political interest.
Adam Schiff, Chairman of the Intelligence Committee, hopes his testimony will convince the Americans. " These public hearings will give the American people the opportunity to assess the validity of the witnesses themselves, but also to learn first-hand the facts about the president's misconduct ," he explains.
" He seems unable to engage in blackmail "
These hearings are likely to crack a little defense Republicans who have always denied any form of pressure on Ukraine. The most loyal ally of the president has also raised a new argument to plead in favor of Donald Trump: its inconsistency. " What I can tell you about Trump's policy vis-à-vis Ukraine is that it was inconsistent. It depends on the person you are talking to. He seems unable to engage in blackmail, "says Lindsey Graham.
Rudolf Giuliani, the president's personal attorney, accused of having developed a parallel diplomatic network and contrary to US interests, for his part announced that he had recruited three lawyers to defend himself.
► See also: Impeachment procedure against Trump: "The Democrats' inquiry is credible"