WASHINGTON — The House Judiciary Committee kicked off its second public hearing in the impeachment inquiry with Congressional investigators presenting evidence that could make Donald Trump the third president in U.S. history to be impeached.
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This has already become quite a contentious hearing as attorneys from both the judiciary and intelligence committees present the findings of their investigations.
The proceedings were tense from the start with Republicans demanding that they have their own hearing to call witnesses, even interrupting the hearing with several parliamentary procedures.
Democrats argued vigorously that Trump’s meaning could not have been clearer in seeking political dirt on Joe Biden, his possible opponent in the 2020 election.
The chief Democratic investigator, Daniel Goldman, asked for his view, testified, “I don’t think there’s any other way to read the words on the page.” Goldman is the top Democratic counsel on the Intelligence Committee.
From the White House, Trump tweeted repeatedly, assailing the “Witch Hunt!” and “Do Nothing Democrats.”
This could be the last or one of the last public hearings this committee holds before they formally draft articles of impeachment.
The Ukraine allegations have been a central focus of Monday's hearings but there already have been some discussion about how Trump tried to fire the special counsel, which could mean these articles may also dip into the Mueller Report.
While the president and his attorneys have decided not to participate in the proceedings for Monday, he still made an appearance. House Democrats played a series of clips of Trump dating all the way back to the campaign.
Democrats here are laying out the strongest case that they believe shows the president violated his oath of office while Republicans are defending him and criticizing the Democratic-led process.
"It is clear and overwhelming that in abusing that power, the president betrayed the national interest by putting his own political prospects over the national security of our country," said Barry Berke, counsel for House Democrats.
"The record in the Democrats' impeachment inquiry does not show that President Trump abused the power of his office or obstructed Congress. To impeach a president, who 63 million people over eight lines in a call transcript is baloney," said Steve Castor, counsel for House Republicans.
"I would like to turn to the evidence of President Trump's conduct concerning Ukraine, my colleague. Mr. Castor just said it revolves around eight lines in one call record. That sorely ignores that vast amount of evidence that we collected of a months-long scheme directed by the president," explained Democratic counsel for House Intelligence Committee Daniel Goldman.
Americans can expect votes on the articles of impeachment in this committee as soon as this week, followed by full House action next week.
Democrats say Trump abused his power in the July 25 phone call when he asked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy for a favor in investigating Democrats and engaged in bribery by withholding nearly $400 million in military aide that Ukraine depends on to counter Russian aggression.
Trump and his aides have made clear that they now see his impeachment in the House as inevitable and have shifted their focus A vote to convict requires a two-thirds vote of the Senate, where Republicans hold 53 of 100 seats. It is unlikely that any Republican senators would cross party lines and vote to remove Trump from office.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.