Trump’s senate impeachment hearing begins

For only the third time in history, an American president is facing an impeachment trial

Hearings are set to start on Tuesday at 6pm

Such a trial could, in theory, lead to president Donald Trump being removed from office.

An impeachment hearing is a political trial, not a criminal one.

Mr Trump is facing two articles of impeachment, or charges.

Firstly, he’s accused of seeking help from Ukraine’s government to help himself get re-elected this November.

He’s alleged to have held back millions of dollars of military aid to Ukraine and dangled a proposed white house meeting with Ukraine’s president, both as bargaining chips.

In exchange, witnesses say he wanted Ukraine to publicly announce an investigation into Joe Biden, the man who’s leading the democratic race to challenge him in the election.

Secondly, after the white house refused to allow staff to testify at the first impeachment hearings last year, democrats accused Mr Trump of obstructing congress

Mr Trump has denied any wrongdoing

Two people are deciding how the trial will be conducted, Mitch McConnell, the republican leader of the senate, and his democratic counterpart, Chuck Schumer.