China News Service, February 9th, a comprehensive report that the US Senate will begin hearing the impeachment case of former President Trump on the 9th local time, and the impeachment trial will officially begin.

The leaders of the Senate have reached an agreement on the timetable and format of the trial, and the trial is expected to end within one week at the earliest.

Trump's defense lawyers called the trial a "political drama" performed by Democrats, and US media said Trump believed he would not be convicted.

　　This impeachment trial will create history. Trump is not only the first president to be impeached twice in U.S. history, but more importantly, it will be the first time in the country's history that an outgoing president has been impeached.

Data map: Former US President Trump.

The impeachment trial will begin on the 9th

End of the week at the earliest


　　The U.S. Senate is scheduled to start hearing the Trump impeachment case on the 9th local time. Senate Majority Leader Schumer and Republican Leader McConnell reached an agreement on the timetable and form of the impeachment trial on the 8th.

If no witnesses are called, the trial may end in about a week.

　　Schumer announced later on the 8th that the two parties had finalized the framework for an impeachment trial.

He said: "The framework we have reached is very fair, and it will allow the trial to achieve its purpose: finding the truth and accountability."

　　According to people familiar with the matter, the Senate will first start a four-hour debate on whether the trial is in line with the Constitution, and then vote.

Senator Paul of the Kentucky Congress forced a similar vote late last month, but it ended in failure. Republicans have consistently promised to vote on the issue again during the impeachment trial.

　　The "opening debate" of the impeachment case will not start until noon on the 10th. The House of Representatives impeachment manager and Trump lawyer team each have 16 hours to present their case.

　　In addition, if the head of the House of Representatives impeachment case makes a request to call witnesses, the Senate of Congress may also debate and vote on this, but it has not yet decided whether to call witnesses.

After both sides of the impeachment case have presented their arguments, congressional senators will have time to ask questions. During Trump's first impeachment trial, the question-and-answer session lasted for two days.

　　When the two parties reached an agreement on the impeachment trial framework, the senators had stated that they hoped to complete a fast trial in about a week.

The Senate of Congress originally planned to adjourn for a week starting on the 12th, but according to the current schedule, they are expected to have to give up at least part of the recess.

Trump thinks he will not be convicted

Lawyer's criticism of impeachment case is "political drama"

　　The lawyer representing Trump in the impeachment case and the impeachment manager of the House of Representatives engaged in a confrontation in the pre-trial briefing.

Trump's lawyers condemned the impeachment initiated by the Democrats as purely "political drama," and it is unconstitutional for the Senate to hold such a trial.

　　Earlier on the 8th, Trump’s legal team put forward the same point as before in a briefing that holding an impeachment trial after the president’s resignation is unconstitutional and should be rejected.

They denied that Trump instigated the fatal riots in the Capitol on January 6. In addition, they insisted that Trump’s speech before the riots was protected by the First Amendment (the right to freedom of speech) and that he acted quickly to stop it. Violence.

　　Trump’s lawyer wrote: “The impeachment clause proposed by the House of Representatives is unconstitutional for many reasons, any of which can be used as a reason for the case to be dismissed immediately. All in all, they clearly indicate that if the House Democrats are allowed to do so Political drama poses a threat to our Republic, democracy and our cherished rights."

　　In addition, US media quoted sources as saying that Trump has been discussing the upcoming impeachment trial against him with aides and advisers, but Trump believes that there will not be enough Republican senators to vote to convict him.

Democrats insist Trump is guilty

Says there is "overwhelming" evidence

　　On the other hand, the head of the impeachment case of the House of Representatives refuted these claims of Trump lawyers one by one.

　　The Democrats wrote in the briefing: “The House of Representatives stated that every allegation in the impeachment clause is true, and any affirmative defense and legality defense proposed in the (defense) reply are completely unfounded."

　　They added: "The House of Representatives further stated that the impeachment clauses properly accuse impeachable crimes in accordance with the Constitution, and are not subject to motions of revocation. They fall within the jurisdiction of the Senate as an impeachment court and should be considered and determined by the Senate as the impeachment court ."

　　The impeachment manager also stated that there was "overwhelming" evidence that Trump instigated congressional riots and did not take action after the riots.

"He had no valid reason to defend his actions. His attempts to evade responsibility were completely futile. As the impeachment clause alleges, President Trump violated his oath of office and betrayed the American people." Wrote in the briefing.

　　It is reported that Democrats need the support of 17 Republican senators to convict Trump.

Although Republicans admitted that Trump was partly responsible for the congressional riots on January 6, the number of Republican senators who would support his conviction is expected to be less than five.

　　On January 13, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to pass the impeachment clause, accusing former President Trump of “inciting rebellion” during the shock incident on the Capitol on January 6, and submitting the impeachment case to the Senate for trial.