Senate hears opening arguments making the case against Trump

Democrats used the first of three days of Senate trial presentation on Jan. 22 to lay out their case for an abuse of power charge against President Trump. (Video: The Washington Post, Photo: Jahi Chikwendiu/The Washington Post)

By John Wagner

Felicia Sonmez

and

Colby Itkowitz

January 22, 2020 at 11:09 p.m. EST

House managers, led by Rep. Adam B. Schiff (D-Calif.), began presenting three days of opening arguments Wednesday in the historic Senate impeachment trial of President Trump on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.

Earlier in the day, Trump said at a news conference in Switzerland that he “can live either way” with the Senate’s decision on whether to call witnesses in a trial focused on his administration’s conduct toward Ukraine.

The crux of the House case is the allegation that Trump withheld military aid and a White House meeting to pressure Ukraine to investigate former vice president Joe Biden, a political rival, as well as his son Hunter Biden.

●Senate adopts ground rules for impeachment trial, delaying a decision on witnesses until after much of the proceedings.

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