Senators, most with minds made up, hear final pleas

Feb 04, 20200

J. Scott Applewhite – Associated Press count

One of the House Democratic impeachment managers, Rep. Jason Crow, D-Colo., leaves after the Senate heard closing arguments in the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, at the Capitol in Washington, Monday, Feb. 3, 2020.

WASHINGTON – Arguments for and against President Donald Trump's ouster ended Monday in the Senate impeachment trial, with the House managers calling the president a danger to democracy because of his actions toward Ukraine and Trump's legal team arguing that impeachment, not Trump's conduct, is the real threat.

Two days before Trump's expected acquittal, the two sides summarized their arguments and pleaded for agreement before a chamber that had largely made up its mind. Democrats have nowhere near the two-thirds of the Senate needed to remove Trump from office, and the only remaining drama centered on a few possible swing votes from each party, particularly the handful of Democrats who would hand Trump a messaging victory if they join Republicans on the final votes.

http://www.startribune.com/senators-most-with-minds-made-up-hear-final-pleas/567542822/