Senate sets rules for President Trump’s impeachment trial; Republicans block all 11 Democratic amendments

This appeared in The Millennial Source

The United States Senate began the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump on Tuesday with a 13-hour session that set rules for the trial. The Republican-led Senate blocked much of the Democrats’ agenda for the trial, including allowing additional evidence and testimony.

The highly partisan atmosphere around the trial has left many to assume Trump’s acquittal is unlikely. However, each side will have three days to present their case that the president abused his power and obstructed justice.

McConnell’s original rules for the trial

With Chief Justice John Roberts presiding over the Senate trial, Tuesday was devoted entirely to setting the rules for the trial. Prior to Tuesday’s proceedings, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a member of Trump’s Republican Party, released his rules for the trial. The rules were designed to expedite the trial process.

In McConnell’s original rules, both the Democratic prosecution and Republican defense would be given two days to provide their case. Each side is afforded 24 hours to present their opening arguments, so a two-day window would…