Trump’s public impeachment hearings: what happened on day one?

Witnesses called to give evidence in front of the cameras as Democrats attempt to amplify their case

George Kent and William Taylor
George Kent (left), deputy assistant secretary for European and Eurasian affairs, and top US diplomat in Ukraine William Taylor are sworn-in before testifying yesterday
(Image credit: 2019 Getty Images)

When the first day of public hearings in the Democrats’ investigation into Donald Trump ended at 3.30pm on Wednesday, the battle lines had been drawn.

The president is accused of coercing Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky by threatening to withhold military aid unless he investigated the US leader’s political rival Joe Biden.

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William Gritten

William Gritten is a London-born, New York-based strategist and writer focusing on politics and international affairs.