President Donald Trump's Lawyers opened their impeachment trial defense in a rare Saturday session, January 25, 2020, with accusing Democrats of trying to overturn the results of the 2016 election.
The President's defense says the investigation into his dealings with Ukraine was not a fact-finding mission, but rather a politically motivated way to remove him from office.
The arguments rebutted allegations against President Trump suggesting he abused his power when he asked Ukraine to investigate political rival Joe Biden and attempting to obstruct Congress through its investigation.
The President's defense is asserting an expansive view of presidential powers and portraying him as besieged by political opponents.
January 24, 2020
Democratic House prosecutors are launching their final arguments on obstruction charges at Donald Trump's impeachment trial, Friday January 24, 2020.
They argued Thursday that he abused his presidential power in his Ukraine dealings and should be convicted because "right matters.”
Now they're addressing the second article of impeachment, which says Trump improperly blocked Congress' investigation of his actions.
The president's legal team is preparing its defense, expected to start Saturday.
Trump bemoaned the schedule in a morning tweet, saying it “looks like my lawyers will be forced to start on Saturday, which is called Death Valley in T.V.”
On Thursday, House Democrats said that “no president” has ever abused power the way President Donald Trump did toward Ukraine.
They're making their case as they press on in Trump's historic impeachment trial in the U.S. Senate.
They are facing a big challenge trying to win over not just fidgety senators but an American public deeply divided by the Republican president's actions.
The long hours in back-to-back days of proceedings have left some senators yawning, stretching and pacing.
Each side has 24 hours over three days to make its case.
Trump's defense team is eager for its turn, likely to begin Saturday. (AP)
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