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Washington (AP) - In the US Senate, the indictment for the second impeachment proceedings against former President Donald Trump has been read out.

Word for word, leading Democratic prosecutor in the US House of Representatives, Jamie Raskin, put forward the resolution holding Trump personally responsible for his supporters' attack on the US Capitol on January 6th.

Before the reading, the so-called impeachment managers around Raskin had brought the indictment with the accusation of "inciting riot" in a procession from one congress chamber to the other in the Capitol.

The Democrat Joe Biden replaced Trump as President last Wednesday.

Trump could be suspended from office for life at the federal level if convicted.

That would undo any plans of Trump to run for the presidency again in 2024.

From the Democratic perspective, the events on January 6 showed that Trump is a threat to national security, democracy and the constitution, as the indictment also states.

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Before the impeachment proceedings actually begin in the second week of February, the chairman of the proceedings will be sworn in on this Tuesday, who in turn will take the oath from the 100 senators.

The senators take the role of jury in the process and make the final decision.

US media unanimously reported that the senior senator, Democrat Patrick Leahy, is expected to lead the trial - not the presiding judge of the Supreme Court, John Roberts.

Under the Rules of Procedure, the presiding judge in the Supreme Court conducts impeachment proceedings against the US President in the Senate.

The broadcaster CNN reported on Monday that since Trump is no longer president, Leahy is expected to be a senator.

The reading of the indictment, the swearing in of the chairman and senators, and initial statements by the defendant and the prosecutor are part of the preparations for the trial, according to the US Congress Research Service (CRS).

The actual start of the proceedings is marked by the opening speech of the House of Representatives, followed by that of the defense.

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Angry Trump supporters forcibly entered the Capitol in early January after Trump gave an inciting speech not far from the White House.

At the time, Congress had met in the Capitol to formally confirm Biden's election victory.

Five people were killed in the riot, including a police officer.

A two-thirds majority of the senators present would be necessary for Trump to be convicted.

New President Biden's Republicans and Democrats each hold 50 seats in the Senate.

So 17 Republicans would also have to stand up against Trump.

It is doubtful whether this will happen.

In the event of a conviction, a simple majority would be enough in a second vote to impose the ban on Trump called for by the Democrats.

Trump has had to face impeachment proceedings that ended in Senate acquittal last February.

At that time, his Republicans still controlled the chamber.

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Biden, who has largely kept a low profile over the impeachment proceedings against his predecessor, told CNN that he did not believe 17 Republicans would vote to convict Trump.

But he spoke out in favor of the procedure.

"I think it has to be done."

The prosecutors and defense counsel now have two weeks to work on their impeachment papers.

Written arguments from the House of Representatives and Trump attorneys are due to be submitted by February 8.

The actual impeachment process in the Senate would then begin on February 9th.

Democrats and Republicans in the US Senate agreed on Friday on the second week of February as the date for the start of negotiations.

The Senate wants to take care of other matters until the actual start of the proceedings.

This suits Biden as he depends on the approval of the Senate for the confirmation of his nominated cabinet members and other top personalities.

On Monday, Janet Yellen was confirmed as the country's first finance minister - but the majority of Biden's candidates are still waiting for the chamber's green light.

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