Democrats will argue during tomorrow's impeachment hearing that no U.S. president in history, until Donald Trump, abused presidential powers to attack America's democracy and corrupt its elections.
Driving the news: Democrats plan to argue that Trump committed the following offenses that the founders "found alarming and most worthy of impeachment," per a Democratic aide working on the impeachment inquiry:
- "Abuses of power through self-dealing."
- "Betrayal of national security in the service of foreign interests."
- "Corruption of our elections that undermine our democratic system."
What to expect: You'll hear opposing arguments from the Democratic and Republican counsels to the Judiciary Committee and the Intelligence Committee, followed by rounds of questioning from Judiciary Committee members.
Between the lines: Our reporting indicates that the Democrat-led hearings so far have not only failed to move Republicans toward impeachment. They have also had the effect of hardening and consolidating Republican support — in both the House and Senate — behind the president.
- Nobody we've spoken to, from either party, thinks there's even a remote chance Trump gets convicted in a Senate trial.
Go deeper: Read the opposing arguments from Democrats and from Republicans.
