Trump’s trial opens on fast track, Dems arguing for removal

By LISA MASCARO, ERIC TUCKER and ZEKE MILLER

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Senate began hearing opening arguments Wednesday in President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial with proceedings now on a fast track. First up: Democratic House managers making their case that Trump abused his presidential power and should be removed from office.

Chief Justice John Roberts gaveled open the session as senators settled in for a several long days of proceedings.

The trial marks just the third time the Senate has weighed whether an American president should be removed from office.

Rep. Adam Schiff of California, chairman of the House Intelligence Committee and leader of the prosecution team, launched into opening arguments referring to Alexander Hamilton and the country’s other Founding Fathers who wrote impeachment into the Constitution.

’We are here today in this hallowed chamber, undertaking this solemn action for only the third time in history because Donald J. Trump, the 45th president of the United States, has acted precisely as Hamilton and his contemporaries feared,” Schiff said.