WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Even with acquittal seemingly assured, Democrats prosecuting President Donald Trump in his impeachment trial made a forceful appeal for conviction on Monday, calling him a man with no moral compass who must be removed to protect American democracy.
U.S. Representative Adam Schiff wrapped up closing arguments for the seven House of Representatives impeachment managers after Trump’s lawyers called the case against the Republican president politically motivated, reckless and baseless.
“We have proven Donald Trump guilty. Now do impartial justice and convict him,” Schiff told the 100-member Senate.
“He has betrayed our national security and he will do so again. He has compromised our elections and he will do so again. You will not change him. You cannot constrain him,” Schiff said. “If you find the courage to stand up to him, to speak the awful truth to his rank falsehood, your place will be among the Davids who took on Goliath – if only you will say, ‘Enough.’”
The impeachment drama neared its conclusion a day before Trump is due to give his annual State of the Union speech to Congress. In Iowa on Monday, voters participated in the first contest in the state-by-state process of choosing the Democratic nominee to challenge Trump in the Nov. 3 election.
On Wednesday, the Republican-controlled Senate is set to vote on whether to remove Trump from office. It looked more certain to acquit him after Senator Lisa Murkowski, a Republican moderate, said in a speech Monday evening that she would not vote to convict despite calling Trump’s actions “shameful and wrong.”
Senator Joe Manchin