AP, WASHINGTONThe US Senate late on Friday narrowly rejected Democratic demands to summon witnesses for US President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial, all but ensuring his acquittal in the third trial to threaten a US president’s removal in US history. Despite the Democrats’ singular focus on hearing new testimony, the Republican majority brushed past those demands to make this the first impeachment trial without witnesses. However, Republicans said Trump’s acquittal is justified and inevitable. Democratic caucus voting begins tomorrow in Iowa and four Democratic candidates have been chafing in the Senate chamber rather than campaigning. The Democrats had badly wanted testimony from Bolton, whose forthcoming book links Trump directly to the charges.

Source: Taipei Times February 01, 2020 16:07 UTC