WASHINGTON (Reuters) – On the eve of his expected impeachment in the U.S. House of Representatives, President Donald Trump accused Democrats of pursuing an \u201cillegal, partisan attempted coup\u201d and declaring \u201copen war\u201d on American democracy as they seek to remove him from office for pressing Ukraine to investigate political rival Joe Biden. <\/p>\n
Trump\u2019s remarks came in a signed letter addressed to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, released as House lawmakers met to set the rules for debate ahead of Wednesday\u2019s planned vote on two articles of impeachment – formal charges – against the Republican president. <\/p>\n
At the same time, the Senate\u2019s top Republican, Mitch McConnell, signaled he will not allow the expected upcoming Senate trial on impeachment charges to involve more fact-finding about Trump\u2019s conduct. <\/p>\n
The rambling, six-page letter from Trump to Pelosi on White House letterhead largely restated the president\u2019s objections to the impeachment probe, but did so in accusatory and sometimes spiteful language that attacked Pelosi, congressional Democrats, Trump\u2019s political rival Joe Biden and institutions such as the FBI. <\/p>\n
Pelosi, Trump wrote, \u201cis turning the House of Representatives from a revered legislative body into a Star Chamber of partisan persecution\u201d while \u201cscarcely concealing your hatred of me.\u201d <\/p>\n
The impeachment probe, the president said, is an \u201can illegal, partisan attempted coup that will, based on recent sentiment, badly fail at the voting booth,\u201d alluding to the November 2020 U.S. presidential election in which he is seeking another four years in office. <\/p>\n
To that end, the letter\u2019s tone was more reminiscent of one of Trump\u2019s famously raucous campaign rallies and was likely intended to rally his loyal political base behind him as Democrats move to vote on Wednesday. The U.S. Constitution gives the House the power to impeach a president for \u201chigh crimes and misdemeanors,\u201d part of the document\u2019s checks and balances among the executive, legislative and judicial branches of the federal government. <\/p>\n
The Democratic-led House is expected to pass two articles of impeachment charging Trump with abuse of power and obstruction of Congress for his dealings with Ukraine. <\/p>\n
\u201cBy proceeding with your invalid impeachment, you are violating your oaths of office, you are breaking your allegiance to the Constitution, and you are declaring open war on American Democracy,\u201d Trump wrote. <\/p>\n
\u201cYou view democracy as your enemy!\u201d he wrote. <\/p>\n
House Democrats accuse Trump of abusing his power by asking Ukraine to investigate Biden, a former U.S. vice president and a leading Democratic contender to oppose him in the 2020 election. Trump is also accused of obstructing the congressional investigation into the matter. <\/p>\n
\u201cLook, this has been a total sham from the beginning,\u201d Trump told reporters at the White House shortly after his letter was released. <\/p>\n
Meanwhile, members of the House Rules Committee met on Tuesday over the rules for the debate before the vote set for Wednesday by the full House, which is expected to result in Trump becoming the third U.S. president to be impeached. <\/p>\n
No president has ever been removed from office via the impeachment process set out in the Constitution. <\/p>\n Earlier, McConnell brushed aside a Democratic request to call four current or former White House officials as witnesses in the Senate impeachment trial expected next month, again making clear that he expects senators not to remove Trump from office. <\/p>\n In dueling speeches on the Senate floor, McConnell said he would not allow a \u201cfishing expedition\u201d after a \u201cslapdash\u201d House impeachment process, while Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said a trial without witnesses would be a \u201csham\u201d and suggested Trump\u2019s fellow Republicans favored a cover-up. <\/p>\n While McConnell said on the floor it was the Senate\u2019s role simply to act as a \u201cjudge and jury,\u201d he later told reporters that he is not \u201can impartial juror.\u201d <\/p>\n \u201cThis is a political process. There is not anything judicial about it,\u201d he said. \u201cImpeachment is a political decision.\u201d <\/p>\n Schumer said he was \u201cutterly amazed\u201d by McConnell\u2019s remark. He had said he wants the trial to consider documents and hear testimony from four witnesses: former national security adviser John Bolton, acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney, Mulvaney aide Robert Blair and budget official Michael Duffey. Schumer has argued that such testimony could sway Republicans in favor of removing Trump. <\/p>\n Trump has refused to cooperate with the House impeachment process and ordered current and former officials like those mentioned by Schumer not to testify or provide documents. <\/p>\n McConnell and Schumer both said they expected to meet soon to discuss how to proceed. The White House indicated it also opposes Schumer\u2019s requests for the Senate trial. <\/p>\n \u201cWhat is Leader McConnell afraid of? What is President Trump afraid of? The truth?\u201d Schumer asked on the Senate floor. <\/p>\n \u201cIf you\u2019re trying to conceal evidence and block testimony, it\u2019s probably not because the evidence is going to help your case. It\u2019s because you\u2019re trying to cover something up,\u201d Schumer added. <\/p>\n (For a graphic on ‘Impeachment inquiry against President Trump’ click here<\/a>) <\/p>\n\u00a0 \u00a0 <\/h3>\n