The impeachment trial against former US President Donald Trump kicks off on Wednesday morning.
Members of the Senate will gather around 7am (NZ time) to debate the constitutionality of the case, which Trump's legal team has said is improper because he is now a private citizen.
If it passes, the impeachment trial will begin, with the managers and former President's legal team arguing on whether Trump should be convicted of incitement of insurrection.
Trump was impeached by the Democratic-led House of Representatives last month for his role in the January 6 attack on the Capitol by a mob of his supporters.
He made a fiery speech to a crowd of supporters in Washington that day, repeating false claims that his November 3 presidential election defeat was the result of widespread voting fraud and encouraged supporters "to fight like hell".
Defenpce lawyers plan to argue on Tuesday that only a sitting President can face an impeachment trial. But a majority of legal experts say it is constitutional to have the trial after an official has left office, said Michigan State University law professor Brian Kalt, a leading impeachment scholar.
Democrats look unable to garner the two-thirds majority needed to convict Trump in the 100-member Senate, which is split 50-50.
Reuters/ Newshub
