Top story: ‘Has to happen’, says Joe Biden
Good morning and welcome to the Briefing – I’m Warren Murray and I’ll be your guide.
The US Senate has received the article of impeachment against Donald Trump, setting the stage for its first ever trial of a president who is no longer in office. For the second time in just over a year, nine House impeachment managers carried the charge in a ceremonial procession across the US Capitol, recently invaded with fatal consequences by a violent mob urged on by Trump. Senate leaders agreed last week to delay the trial for two weeks, allowing time to deal with coronavirus, install Joe Biden’s cabinet and let Trump prepare a defence.
The trial of Trump “has to happen”, Biden has told CNN. While acknowledging the effect on his agenda, the president said there would be “a worse effect if it didn’t happen”. Biden said he did not think enough Republican senators would vote for impeachment to convict – which would allow Trump to be disqualified from ever holding office again. Donald Trump’s campaign has meanwhile sought to…
