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Mitch McConnell (our photo), the boss of the Republican majority in the Senate, hopes to quickly obtain the acquittal of Donald Trump, perhaps within two weeks. REUTERS / Tom Brenner

Debates continue in the Senate on the first day of the Donald Trump trial before. The senators, charged with being the jurors in this trial, fight over the questions of procedures and the rules to be applied. The Democrats, a minority in the Senate, are indignant; they accuse the Republicans of doing everything to prevent a fair and just trial.

With our correspondent in the United States, Éric de Salve

All day Tuesday , January 21 , the Democrats fought to try to impose their rules, but without success. Each time they collide with the same republican wall. Republicans whom they accuse of wanting to expedite the trial. Because each time it is the imperturbable Mitch McConnell, the leader of the Republican majority who decides and who rejects most of their resolutions.

No documents classified on Ukraine

One wanted, for example, to force the White House to produce classified documents on Ukraine, a request rejected. Another was to bring in officials from the Trump administration and some of his advisers, also rejected.

" This is not a fair trial, in fact it is not a trial at all, " protested Adam Schiff, charged with laying the charge. " A fair and equitable trial does not allow each party to choose the evidence presented " repeated the democrat throughout the evening.

A republican concession

The majority's only concession: at the opening, to develop its arguments, each camp will have 24 hours spread over three days instead of two. For now, each vote respects a strict partisan line: 53 against 47. The Republican majority is therefore still behind Donald Trump.

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