WASHINGTON (AP) ‐ The U.S. Senate plunged into President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial with Republicans abruptly abandoning plans to cram opening arguments into two days but solidly rejecting Democratic demands for more witnesses to expose what they deem Trump’s "trifecta" of offenses.The daylong session started Tuesday with the setback for Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell and the president’s legal team, but it ended near 2 a.m. Wednesday with Republicans easily approving the rest of the trial rules largely on their terms. The result is Trump’s historic trial, unfolding amid a watchful public in an election year.
"We have a great case," Trump said as he began his second day at a global economic forum in Davos, Switzerland. He said he thought his legal team was doing a "very good job."
The trial is now on a fast-track with almost no signs of Republican resistance to the actions that led to his impeachment.
"It’s about time we bring this power trip in for a landing," said White House counsel Pat Cipollone, the president’s lead lawyer, lashing out at the House Democrats prosecuting the case.