Despite the bickering in the US Congress in light of the new balances after the recent elections, a date has been set for the trial of former President Donald Trump, and the vote in favor of approving the appointment of Lloyd Austin as defense minister in President Joe Biden's administration.
The Leader of the Democratic Senate, Senator Chuck Schumer, said Friday that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi "has informed me that the indictment (against Trump) will be referred to the Senate on Monday."
He added - in his speech to the Senate - "The House of Representatives will raise the questioning article (...) and the Senate will hold the trial of Donald Trump.
He stressed that the council would proceed quickly with the trial procedures despite attempts to delay it.
Trump's indictment includes one charge of "incitement to revolt" in connection with his supporters 'storming of the Capitol (Congress) building on January 6, to obstruct lawmakers' approval of Joe Biden's victory in the presidential election.
If Trump is convicted in this trial, he will be prevented from holding any federal office, meaning that he will not be able to return to the presidency again.
Al-Jazeera correspondent Bisan Abu Kwik from Congress indicated that referring the indictment to the Senate requires the start of the trial procedures by one o'clock in the afternoon the following day.
Attempts to delay trial
Republicans in Congress had called for the trial to be delayed until next February, claiming to ensure proper procedures and to give Trump's defense time to prepare.
Republican Minority Leader Senator Mitch McConnell said in his speech to the Senate today that the trial should be "complete and fair."
McConnell had earlier called for the trial to be postponed, and said in a statement that "at this time of political tension, Republicans believe it is imperative not to disrupt the legal due process that former President Trump deserves."
On the other hand, US media attributed to Republican Senator Lindsey Graham as saying that Trump had agreed with attorney Butch Bowers to represent him at the trial.
New Defense Minister
In the course of the Senate business today, lawmakers voted to ratify the appointment of retired General Lloyd Austin as Secretary of Defense, making Austin the first African American to hold the position.
Both houses of Congress (the Senate and House of Representatives) agreed to grant Austin an exemption from the requirement of 7 years of retirement from military service before assuming the position of Secretary of Defense.
It is noteworthy that Austin retired in 2016.
Meanwhile, partisan rivalries continue in Congress after the Democrats now hold a majority in both houses, but by a narrow margin.
Bisan Abu Kweik explained that the dispute is currently focused on the frameworks regulating the work of the Senate.
McConnell's Republicans are adamant about retaining the Filibuster, which includes stalling and blocking tactics for the other side's legislative proposals.
Biden decrees
On the other hand, US President Joe Biden today signs new executive orders related to social rights and immediate food aid to face the repercussions of the Corona pandemic.
The executive orders focus on providing relief to families who are unable to purchase food, the unemployed, and those who have yet to receive financial aid, and on raising the minimum income for federal employees to $ 15 an hour.
Yesterday, Biden signed 10 executive orders to regulate procedures for dealing with the virus, and the US President described the mechanism for distributing the vaccine set by the previous administration as a failure, and confirmed that his plan to address the pandemic is complete and comprehensive.