Effort to expose whistle-blower fails as Trump trial edges on

WASHINGTON (AP):

President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial lurched into a final day of questions and answers Thursday before a crucial vote on calling witnesses — even as attention focused on a Trump attorney’s controversial defence and a Republican senator’s effort to expose the whistle-blower who started the impeachment probe.

The vote on witnesses, expected Friday, could lead to an abrupt end of the trial with the expected acquittal. Or it could bring weeks more of argument and then testimony from former National Security Adviser John Bolton and others.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell opened Thursday’s session bracing for an attempt by Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky to expose the name of the still-anonymous whistle-blower in the public trial. McConnell urged restraint by his colleagues.

But to no avail.

Paul quickly rose to put forward one of the first questions of the day, drawing a long pause in the chamber as Chief Justice John Roberts looked over the submission.

Said Roberts: “The presiding officer declines to read the question as submitted.”

The chief justice, who plays the rare role of fielding questions during the impeachment trial, had communicated through his staff to McConnell’s office that he did not want to read the whistle-blower’s name, according to a Republican unauthorised to discuss the private conversation and granted anonymity.

Paul promised to press on. His office said the senator believes “it is crucial the American people get the full story on what started the Democrats’ push to impeach President Donald Trump”.

Senators faced eight hours Thursday of final questions ahead of Friday’s expected votes.