That final vote on whether to convict the Republican president could take place late on Friday or on Saturday, congressional sources said. This would be the first Senate impeachment trial in US history with no witnesses, including trials of two prior presidents and a number of other federal officials. Blumenthal added that the trial is no vindication for Trump "because it was really no trial - no witnesses, no documents, no real evidence." Trump's Republican allies have sought to keep the trial on a fast track and minimize any damage to the president, who is seeking re-election on November 3. The president held a rally in Des Moines, Iowa, on Thursday night and denounced the impeachment trial, again calling it an effort by Democrats to overturn his 2016 election victory.

Source: Irish Independent January 31, 2020 17:03 UTC