As final preparations made for Senate trial, president's legal team claims process is 'dangerous perversion of Constitution,' worthy of condemnation

Ground rules for the trial still unclear; law professor Alan Dershowitz, on president's team, pushing for no new testimony to be admitted; Democrats strongly disagree

The president wants a swift acquittal, which means Republicans will need to override Democrats' demands for witnesses, setting up an intense fight just over the rules

Nonbinding statement affirming Congress role in declaring war passed the House last week; Republican leader McConnell urges Democrats not to 'screw up' US deterrence in Mideast

US president's open encouragement of demonstrations and praise for protesters refusing to walk on Israeli flag is break from previous Washington policy on Iran affairs, say experts

'Every Senator now faces a choice: to be loyal to the President or the Constitution,' speaker writes in a letter to her Democratic colleagues

The decision complicates Republican efforts to retain a Senate majority, but Iran crisis makes it an awkward time for top diplomat to leave his post and seek elective office

Democrats and Republicans 'remain at an impasse' over terms of Senate trial of President Trump, set to start in January

US House Speaker refuses to say when or whether she would send articles to the Republican-led Senate for a trial until she knows more about how impeachment will be handled

US president lashes 'vicious crusade' against him; Democrats vow to 'defend our Constitution from all enemies, foreign and domestic' ahead of expected party-line vote