United States President Donald Trump’s historic impeachment trial begins in the Senate today. Chief Justice John Roberts will preside over the trial. The proceedings will begin at 11.30 PM IST tonight.

This is only the third time in history that an American President is facing an impeachment trial. Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton are the two other US Presidents who faced impeachment trials earlier, while Richard Nixon missed the proceedings after he tendered resignation before the trial.

Mr Trump is facing two articles of impeachment, or charges. Firstly, he’s accused of seeking help from Ukraine’s government to help himself get re-elected this November. He is alleged to have held back millions of dollars of military aid to Ukraine and dangled a proposed White House meeting with Ukraine’s president, both as bargaining chips.

In exchange, witnesses say he wanted Ukraine to publicly announce an investigation into Joe Biden, the man who is leading the Democratic race to challenge him in the election.

Secondly, after the White House refused to allow staff to testify at the first impeachment hearings last year, Democrats accused Mr Trump of obstructing Congress, the part of the US government that writes and brings in laws, and which was investigating him.

The lawmakers, will decide if Trump abused his office and obstructed Congress as charged in two articles of impeachment.
President Trump has asserted that the saga is a political witch hunt and a hoax, and that his phone call with the Ukrainian leader was perfect.