Democrats say Trump blocked Ukraine money but 'got caught'

Democratic House prosecutors launched their final arguments Friday at Donald Trump's impeachment trial insisting the president only released congressionally approved military money to Ukraine because he had "gotten caught" withholding it.

"The scheme was unravelling," said Rep. Jason Crow of Colorado, a former Army ranger, as the prosecution wrapped up its presentation on the first article of impeachment, abuse of power, before turning to the charge of obstruction of Congress.

As Democrats pressed their case before sceptical Republican senators for a third day, the president's legal team was preparing its defence, expected to start Saturday.

Trump, eyes on the audience beyond the Senate chamber, bemoaned the schedule in a tweet, saying "looks like my lawyers will be forced to start on Saturday, which is called Death Valley in TV".

The Senate jurors faced another long day Friday armed with pens and paper and, for Republicans, the gift of fidget spinners for the historic trial.

The president is being tried in the Senate after the House impeached him last month, accusing him of abusing his office by asking Ukraine for politically motivated probes of political foe Joe Biden and Biden's son while withholding military aid from a US ally that was at war with bordering Russia.

The second article of impeachment accuses him of obstructing Congress by refusing to turn over documents or allow officials to testify in the House probe.

Crow, a freshman lawmaker, said the money for Ukraine was released once Congress intervened.

"It wasn't lifted for any legitimate reason," Crow told the senators. "It was only lifted because President Trump had gotten caught."
"Let me tell you something. If right doesn't matter, it doesn't matter how good the Constitution is," Schiff told a pin-drop-quiet room. "If you find him guilty you must find that he should be removed. Because right matters."