Impeachment trial of US President Donald Trump

#ImpeachmentTrialOfDonaldTrump; #SearingInCeremnies; #TestifyImpeachmentTrial

New York, Jan 17 (Canadian-Media):  ​Official commencement of procedural matters in the Senate this week for impeachment trial of the US president Donald Trump was done with Chief Justice John Roberts and the senators sworn in, media reports said.

It remained doubtful if the requirement of a two-thirds majority of the 100-member body for removing the president from office would be fulfilled in Republican-majority chamber.

A resolution setting the rules of the trial will likely be taken by the Senate on Tuesday, which would be followed by the arguments. Opening statements in the Senate trial are expected next week.

Trump's impeachment trial defence team led by White House counsel Pat Cipollone and Trump private attorney Jay Sekulow, would be joined by the former independent counsel Ken Starr, and prominent lawyer Alan Dershowitz.  Trump adviser Pam Bondi and former independent counsel Robert Ray will also be on the team.

After the swearing ceremony of U.S. senators as jurors for Trump’s impeachment trial, it was unclear if new evidence about a pressure campaign on Ukraine would be admitted and whether the Senate will vote to allow witness testimony and new evidence, or whether senators will decide the case as Republican Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has suggested, using only the material amassed by House investigators.

​In spite of White House's request, although several key figures in the Trump administration's dealings with Ukraine refused to provide testimony or documents in the House impeachment inquiry, but John Bolton, the former White House national security adviser, had said he is willing to testify at the impeachment trial if a subpoena is issued by the Senate.