WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Senate’s top Republican exhorted fellow senators on Tuesday to acquit President Donald Trump in his impeachment trial, warning that the fate of the republic depended on it, even as his Democratic counterpart accused Republicans of a cover-up.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell walks to the Senate chamber at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S., February 4, 2020. REUTERS/Erin Scott
The partisan rancor in the dueling speeches by Republican Senator Mitch McConnell and Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer underscored the wider polarization in the country over Trump’s impeachment on charges arising from his dealings with Ukraine.
McConnell urged the Senate, which is controlled by Trump’s fellow Republicans and is expected to acquit Trump in a vote on Wednesday, to stop what he called the Democrats’ abuse of power in impeaching Trump in the House of Representatives.
The House impeached Trump on Dec. 18 on charges of abuse of power for asking Ukraine to investigate political rival Joe Biden and his son Hunter and obstruction of Congress for blocking testimony and documents sought in the investigation.
“We must vote to reject the House abuse of power, vote to protect our i