From Far & Near US Impeachment Trial-9 By Shashi Malla The crux of the debate over the impeachment trial of U.S. President Donald Trump in the Senate is the indubitable fact that the American political system of government has been seriously challenged to deal with a singular, idiosyncratic chief executive in a deeply divided country which will decide whether he should get another four years in the White House. His policies – or lack of them – have caused huge disruptions in the domestic arena and international politics. The world watches with bated breath. A breathtaking new defence On Wednesday, Trump’s lawyer Alan Derschowitz (a Harvard law professor emeritus) rolled out a novel and very Trumpian legal argument in his client’s defence: The President’s personal interest is the national interest per se when he’s up for re-election. The logic here is that Trump believes his reelection is what’s best for the country, so thereforewhatever he does to secure a second term is, by definition, in the national interest (CNN). Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren, also a former Harvard law professor, criticized Dershowitz for his circuitous and dubious defence, who shot back that she ‘doesn’t understand the law’! Trump explodes at Bolton Agitated, under pressure and still unsure he has enough loyalty among Senate Republicans to dictate when his own impeachment trial will end, Trump attacked his former National Security Adviser (NSA) John Bolton personally. Bolton was fired summarily by presidential tweet last September, just before the Ukraine scandal erupted. He is apparently willing to testify at the impeachment trial and, also to spill the beans on his private conversations with Trump. These have been detailed in his forthcoming book. Question & Answer Session During the first day of Senate questions – which were read impassively by US Supreme Court Chief Justice – Bolton played a big part. The first question was posed by three Republican senators who have suggested they might be open to calling witnesses – Mitt Romney, Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski. The second question, posed by Democratic Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, was whether the Senate could return a “fully informed” verdict without testimony by Bolton others. The senators’ questions basically revolved around the forthcoming witness vote. Should Chief Justice Roberts make the witness decision? Both senators Collins and Romney have suggested both sides should get witnesses. Moderate Democrat, Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia has also sounded open to the idea, although he’d like to defer the decision-making to Roberts, who is presiding over the whole trial. Democratic Senator Tom Udall of New Mexico doesn’t think Hunter Biden (son of Joe Biden) would have much to offer to the trial, but he’d also consider ceding authority to Roberts. Expert’s Analysis There is a strange twist to the proceedings. CNN’s Stephen Collinson writes: “Impeachment was meant to punish Donald Trump’s unrestrained use of his authority, but the grounds on which Republican senators plan to acquit him may instead give him a green light to use his power however he wants to win reelection.” Furthermore, “Trump’s [Republican] defenders looking to end his Senate trial in the next few days are increasingly arguing that it’s time to shut things down because even if Trump is guilty of coercing Ukraine for poltical favours, such conduct would not be impeachable.” Further Action Thursday was another day of Questions & Answers. On Friday, the Senate’s trial rules dictate there will be four hours of debate and then a vote on whether the Senate should seek witnesses and documents. If the Senate defeats that resolution, the trial will likely head to a quick acquittal of Trump. The writer can be reached at:shashipbmalla@hotmail.com   Please Note: Our daily online updates on the US Impeachment Trial of Donald Trump will be continued. ____________________________________________________________