Members of the Senate are now officially jurors in the impeachment trial of President Trump. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts has administered the oath to all 100 Senators – and he’ll preside over the impeachment trial.
Technically, the trial is now underway, but opening statements don’t happen until Tuesday. Meanwhile, President Trump is answering claims made by indicted Rudy Giuliani associate, Lev Parnas. As we told you yesterday, Parnas is claiming that he has acted in concert with Giuliani – and with the complete blessing of the President. Trump’s response? That in spite of any pictures you may have seen, he doesn’t know Parnas at all.
Speaking in the Oval Office, Trump again called the impeachment a “hoax” and he takes pictures with “thousands of supporters all the time.” The President once again defended his personal attorney Rudy Giuliani, calling him one of the "great time fighters."
Later, Senate Democrats greeted reporters – saying all they’re demanding is a fair, impartial impeachment trial of President Trump. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer told reporters that the impeachment charges against Trump are "very, very serious” and pushed for witness testimony and subpoenas for documents that have been blocked by the White House. California's Kamala Harris argued that it’s not just the President, but that the integrity of the U.S. Senate is on trial.
What's still up in the air? If the President will put on a defense. It's expected he will, but his legal team hasn't been settled.
Source: White House