WASHINGTON — Official proceedings in the Senate impeachment trial of President Donald Trump are almost done, but senators are now trying to sway each other.
- Closing arguments on both sides took place Monday
- Senators to make vote on impeachment Wednesday
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The senators at the Capitol won't vote until Wednesday on whether to acquit Trump or remove him from office.
On Monday, they heard closing arguments from Trump's defense team and House impeachment managers.
"We have proven Donald Trump guilty. Now do impartial justice and convict him," Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff told the Senate.
Both sides say it's an issue of election integrity.
"They have cheapened the awesome power of impeachment, and unfortunately, the country is not better for that," Trump attorney Jay Sekulow said.
House Democrats argue that Trump corrupted the system by trying to get a foreign government to investigate a political rival in exchange for funding. The White House's defense team countered that removing Trump's name from the ballot in 2020 takes the decision out of the hands of the voters.
Now, senators will have the chance to discuss their vote.
"The president isn't prohibited by law from engaging the assistance of a foreign ally in an anti-corruption investigation," Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa said.
"Critically, the president has also given every indication he will continue to put his own interests ahead of American interests," Washington Democratic Sen. Patty Murray said.
The threshold for removing Trump from office and banning him from running again is 67 senators. That would mean at least 20 Republicans would have to vote yes to get there, and there's no indication there will be that many defections. Only two Republicans joined Democrats last week during a vote to decide whether to hear testimony from witnesses. So Trump is all but guaranteed acquittal at this point.