Donald Trump's pressure on Ukraine to investigate rival 'clear and present danger,' Democrats claim

Donald Trump has branded the probe a hoax and denies wrongdoing
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Donald Trump’s pressure on Ukraine to investigate a political rival is a “clear and present danger” to the upcoming election, Democrats have said as they ramp up their impeachment case.

The House of Representatives Judiciary Committee’s Democratic chairman Jerry Nadler said there was extensive proof of US leader Trump's wrongdoing, saying: “the danger to our democracy is clear and our duty is clear.”

The president’s "constitutes a continuing threat to the integrity of our elections and to our democratic system of government," He added. "Such conduct is clearly impeachable. This committee will proceed accordingly."

A nine-hour hearing in committee was punctuated by shouting and recriminations from Mr Trump's fellow Republicans, who are unhappy with the process that could lead the panel to vote this week on articles of impeachment.

House Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler (L) during the committee hearing
AFP via Getty Images

The Judiciary panel could vote this week on whether to send formal charges, known as articles of impeachment, to the full Democratic-led House.

If the House approves the articles, as expected, the Republican-controlled Senate would hold a trial to decide whether to remove the president from office. A conviction is considered unlikely.

Republicans accused Democrats of embarking on a politically driven mission to oust Mr Trump from office without direct evidence he had abused his power, obstructed Congress or committed other impeachable offences.

House Judiciary Committee Republican ranking member Doug Collins reacts as a hearing to receive counsel presentations of evidence from the impeachment inquiry enters its eighth hour on Monday
REUTERS

"They're desperate to have an impeachment vote on this president," said Representative Doug Collins, the top Republican on the panel.

Republicans said there was no proof Mr Trump improperly pressured Ukraine to investigate former US Vice President Joe Biden, a leading Democrat in the 2020 presidential race.

They also argued there was no first-hand evidence Trump withheld $391 million in military aid or a White House meeting to get his Ukrainian counterpart to investigate Biden and his son, Hunter Biden, as well as a debunked theory that Ukraine, not Russia, interfered in the 2016 election.

Trump denies wrongdoing and has called the impeachment probe a hoax.

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