Trump's impeachment trial begins with swearing-in of senators, Chief Justice John Roberts

Chief Justice John Roberts and members of the U.S. Senate have been sworn in for the start of President Trump's impeachment trial.

Roberts on Thursday was escorted to the Senate and sworn in to preside over the trial, and members of the Senate were subsequently sworn in to serve as jurors, CNN reports. The senators took an oath swearing "do impartial justice according to the Constitution and laws," an oath that dates back to 1798, The New York Times reports.

This historic swearing-in came after the articles of impeachment charging Trump with abuse of power and obstruction of Congress were delivered to the Senate. Trump is the third president in U.S. history to be impeached. The House of Representatives passed its articles of impeachment following an inquiry that centered on allegations that Trump withheld aid to Ukraine to pressure its president into announcing investigations that might benefit him in the 2020 presidential election.

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After these procedural steps, the trial will resume on Tuesday, and ABC News reports the White House is hoping it will last about two weeks.