Charges against Trump politically motivated: Defence team

The lawyers representing Donald Trump at his impeachment trial said the abuse of power charges against the US President was 'driven by political desires', as they wrapped up their opening arguments.'The articles of impeachment fall far short of any constitutional standard,' White House Counsel Pat Cipollone, who led Trump's defence, said.'What they are asking you to do is to throw out a successful president on the eve of an election, with no basis and in violation of the Constitution,' he said.Urging the Senate to acquit the President of the abuse of power charges, the White House counsel argued that overturning the last election and 'massively interfering' with the upcoming one would cause serious and lasting damage to the people of the United States.