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Senator Mitch McConnell at the Capitol on December 3, 2019. REUTERS / Joshua Roberts

The head of the Republican majority in the Senate wants a speedy trial to exempt President Trump from the charges against him as soon as possible. But Nancy Pelosi refuses for the moment to send her the indictment, an essential procedural step.

With our correspondent in Washington, Anne Corpet

Mitch McConnell spoke in the Senate and had very harsh words against the House of Representatives. The head of the Republican majority in the Senate described the president 's impeachment as "a toxic precedent guided by partisan rages ". " The Democrats conducted the most hasty, the least thorough and the most unfair indictment investigation in modern history, " said Mitch McConnell in his 30-minute speech.

The leader of the Republicans in the Senate wants to organize a quick trial to quickly close the case and allow the president to regain control in his campaign. But he encountered a procedural problem.

The Democrats in the House conducted the most hasty, the least thorough and the most unfair indictment investigation in modern history. Their harassment proceedings have now resulted in the first purely partisan indictment of a president since the end of the civil war. Opposition to impeachment was bipartisan. Only a party, a faction wanted this result.

Mitch McConnell, head of the Republicans in the Senate 12/19/2019 - by RFI Play

As for Nancy Pelosi, the head of the Democrats in the House of Representatives has still not forwarded the articles of the indictment to the upper house. She will wait to learn more about the organization of the Senate trial.

Democrats turn to obstruct

In reality, the Democrats want four witnesses to testify under oath, including John Bolton and Mick Mulvaney, two close to the president who were not interviewed by the representatives.

The roles have now been reversed with the end of the investigation in the Chamber. After having suffered criticism from the Republicans for weeks, it is now the Democrats who denounce the procedure, now in the hands of the presidential majority, and who obstruct it.

► Listen: Trump indictment: "Delaying trial would be nonsense"