The US Senate has officially begun the trial of President Donald Trump, as Democratic lawmakers have read the official charge sheet before the Senate, as a prelude to a move to remove him if convicted.
The Democrats' presentation of the accusations came just before 100 Senators were sworn in as the jury in the third trial of impeachment in US history.
Democratic Representative Adam Schiff - who appointed the chief prosecutor in this trial - said President Trump "has been accused of serious crimes and misdemeanors," referring to the accusations that the House of Representatives made against him last December 18 of abusing power and obstructing the work of Congress.
For her part, Speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi said that the Republicans refuse to summon new witnesses and new documents in President Trump's parliamentary trial, and considered this to ignore the facts. She added, "The ball is in the Senate court."
This is the beginning of a protocol that refers measures from the Speaker of the House, dominated by Democrats, to the Senate, which is dominated by Republicans.
Two charges
Yesterday, Pelosi signed Trump's indictment, which includes two clauses of abuse of his powers and obstruction of Congress, after the House voted to refer the list to the Senate.
On December 18, Trump became the third president to stand on trial after the House of Representatives voted to formally charge him on two counts.
But it is highly unlikely that Trump will be condemned in the Senate because Republicans have a majority of 53 to 47 seats for Democrats, and exceeding the two-thirds threshold required for his conviction is difficult.
The first accusation against Trump is unlawfully seeking help from Ukraine for his re-election campaign this year, and the abuse of power to prevent this country from obtaining US aid with the aim of pressuring him to open an investigation with Joe Biden, the former vice president who is currently leading the Democratic presidential nomination race For the year 2020.
The second accusation is an attempt to obstruct justice by failing to provide witnesses and documents relating to the investigation, in defiance of summonses issued by Congress.