Opening statements for the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump were delivered Wednesday by House impeachment managers Reps. Adam Schiff, Jerry Nadler, Sylvia Garcia, Jason Crow, Val Demings, Zoe Lofgren and Rep. Hakeem Jeffries have delivered their opening statements.
The impeachment managers are attempting to prove that Trump abused his power as president by attempting to influence the 2020 election for his own personal gain by withholding military aid to Ukraine in exchange for Ukraine announcing that it was opening a corruption investigation into Vice President Joe Biden and his son, Hunter.
They're also trying to prove that Trump obstructed Congress by withholding evidence and witnesses during the House of Representatives' investigation into the Ukraine scandal.
Trump claims he pushed Ukraine to investigate the Bidens after Joe Biden, when he was vice president, pressured Ukraine to fire prosecutor Viktor Shokin, who was investigating energy company Burisma — a company where Hunter Biden sat on the board of directors. Obama administration officials say Biden was carrying out the administration's policy of fighting corruption in the region.
The House will be given two more days to give their opening arguments. Schiff stated Thursday's session, which will get underway at 1 p.m., will focus on Article 1 of the two articles of impeachment.