<\/p>\n
Senate Democrats proposed calling White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney and former national security adviser John Bolton to testify in a weekslong Senate impeachment trial focused on President Donald Trump\u2019s controversial actions with Ukraine.<\/p>\n
In a letter to Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Sunday, Minority Leader Chuck Schumer suggested the Senate engage in a \u2018fair and honest\u2019 trial in an offer that signals that Democrats are seeking an evidentiary trial.<\/p>\n
Currently, Trump faces one abuse of power charge and an obstruction of Congress charge over his reported efforts to pressure Ukraine officials to investigate political rival, Joe Biden, while withholding military aid.<\/p>\n
![\"Minority](\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2019\/12\/16\/01\/22285536-7794927-image-m-31_1576460134435.jpg\")
<\/p>\nMinority Leader Chuck Schumer (pictured) and Senate Democrats propose a weekslong impeachment trial with at testimonies from four witnesses<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
![\"The](\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2019\/12\/16\/01\/22285534-7794927-image-a-32_1576460147159.jpg\")
<\/p>\nThe proposal was announced in a letter to\u00a0Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (pictured) on Sunday<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
It is believed that Trump will likely be impeached by the Democrat controlled House, but will be acquitted in a Senate trial where Republicans hold the majority.<\/p>\n
NBC News reports that Schumer proposed the Senate subpoena four people expected to have knowledge of the $400million delay in aid: Michael Duffy, associate director for national security at the Office of Management and Budget, and Robert Blair, senior adviser to Mulvaney, Bolton and Mulvaney.<\/p>\n
Democrats want testimony from Bolton, who labelled the alternative foreign policy spearheaded by Trump\u2019s personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, and others as a \u2018drug deal\u2019 he wanted no parts of. He left his position at The White House in September.<\/p>\n
![\"Pictured:](\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2019\/12\/16\/02\/22285520-7794927-Pictured_John_Bolton_former_national_security_adviser-m-55_1576463163554.jpg\")
![\"Pictured:\u00a0White](\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2019\/12\/16\/06\/22285516-7794927-Pictured_White_House_chief_of_staff_Mick_MulvaneMick_Mulvaney-a-7_1576478237583.jpg\")
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nJohn Bolton (left) and Mick Mulvaney (right) are among those named by Senate Democrats that could testify during the Senate impeachment trial<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
They also want to hear from Mulvaney, who has acknowledged that military aid designated to Ukraine was being held up.<\/p>\n
House Democrats have previously subpoenaed all four officials, but none testified.<\/p>\n
Schumer said Democrats ‘would of course be open\u2019 to testimony from anyone with direct knowledge of aid to Ukraine if House prosecutors or Trump\u2019s lawyers requested it.<\/p>\n
Sen. Ted Cruz said Sunday that Trump should be able to call witnesses like the whistleblower, who initially reported Trump\u2019s phone call, and Joe Biden\u2019s son, Hunter Biden.<\/p>\n
Hunter was on the board of a Ukrainian energy company while his father was vice president and Trump, without any evidence, has claimed that Biden had a Ukrainian prosecutor fired because the prosecutor was probing into the energy company.<\/p>\n
![\"President](\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2019\/12\/16\/01\/22284900-7794927-image-a-41_1576460201327.jpg\")
<\/p>\nPresident Donald Trump (pictured)\u00a0 believes the impeachment process will be a stain on his legacy, even if he is acquitted of his charges<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Trump has repeatedly condemned the impeachment inquiry and reportedly told confidants that even if he is acquitted, it will stain his legacy.<\/p>\n
In the same vein, Trump believes that impeachment could bolster his political hold during re-election, citing campaign data that his numbers have increased in battle ground states since the process began.<\/p>\n
McConnell has indicated that he wants a quick trial without calling witnesses, as Republicans fear it would become a political spectacle.<\/p>\n
Sen. Lindsey Graham, a Trump ally, has also expressed his desire for a speedy trial and warned that calling witnesses could mean Trump administration officials, like Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, could be forced to testify.<\/p>\n
\u2018I\u2019d tell the president, if somebody is ready to acquit you, I\u2019d sort of get out of the way,\u2019 Graham said.<\/p>\n
![\"Sen.](\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2019\/12\/16\/01\/22284902-7794927-image-a-42_1576460225012.jpg\")
<\/p>\nSen. Lindsey Graham (pictured): ‘I understand the president\u2019s frustration, but I think what\u2019s best for the country is to get this thing over with’<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\u2018I understand the president\u2019s frustration, but I think what\u2019s best for the country is to get this thing over with. I clearly made up my mind. I\u2019m not trying to hide the fact that I have disdain for the accusations in the process. So I don\u2019t need any witnesses.\u2019<\/p>\n
Schumer and Democrats have hit back at Republican Senators who have signaled that they already know how they will vote despite not witnessing proceedings yet.<\/p>\n
Schumer said in his letter: \u2018Senate Democrats believe strongly, and I trust Senate Republicans agree, that this trial must be one that is fair, that considers all of the relevant facts, and that exercises the Senate’s ‘sole Power of Impeachment’ under the Constitution with integrity and dignity.\u2019<\/p>\n
![\"Schumer](\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2019\/12\/16\/06\/22285538-7794927-Schumer_pictured_The_trial_must_be_one_that_not_only_hears_all_o-a-8_1576478237590.jpg\")
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