ThehistoricimpeachmenttrialofUSPresidentDonaldTrumpopenedwithfireworksTuesdayasDemocratsangrilyaccusedSenateRepublicansofseekinga"cover-up"withoutwitnessesornewevidence.
WiththeUSleaderfacingpotentialremovalfromofficeforabuseofpower,hiscloseallyMitchMcConnelllaidoutgroundrulesthatwouldblocksubpoenaingkeywitnessesordocumentswhileeachsidemakesitscase--potentiallycripplingprosecutors'arguments.
Flexinghissolid53-47majority,theRepublicanSenateleaderalsomadeclearhewouldsummarilyblockanyDemocraticattemptstochangehisrules.
"Thebasicstructurewe'reproposingisjustaseminentlyfairandeven-handed,"McConnellsaid.
AdamSchiff,theleaderoftheHouseimpeachmentmanagersprosecutingTrump,counteredthattheprocess"makesnosense"foratrial,andwasdesignedinsteadtoensureevidenceisneverheardandTrumpisexculpated.
McConnell'srulesaimtomakethecase"goawayasquicklyaspossibletocoveruphismisdeeds,"SchiffsaidinhisopeningpresentationontheSenatefloor.
"It'scompletelybackwards,trialbeforeevidence,"hesaid.
"MostAmericansdon'tbelievetherewillbeafairtrial."
JaySekulow,oneofTrump'slawyers,toldtheSenateTuesdaythatthetwoarticlesofimpeachmenthaveonly"avagueallegationaboutanon-crimeallegationofabuseofpowerandobstructionofCongress."
ThepresidenthimselfwasinDavos,SwitzerlandfortheWorldEconomicForumonTuesday,whereherepeatedhislongstandingcharacterisationofimpeachmentasa"hoax."
InDavos,Trumpsaid,"we'remeetingwithworldleaders,themostimportantpeopleintheworldandwe'rebringingbacktremendousbusiness."