First Televised Impeachment Hearing for Donald Trump held
First Televised Impeachment Hearing for Donald Trump held

The impeachment inquiry into US President Donald Trump went public on Wednesday as lawmakers began their first televised public hearings, marking a new phase that could determine the fate of his tumultuous presidency.

Democrats leading the US House of Representatives probe have summoned three US diplomats — all of whom have previously expressed alarm in closed-door testimony about Trump’s dealings with US ally Ukraine — to detail their concerns under the glare of wall-to-wall news coverage this week. Another public hearing is scheduled for Friday.

Trump skipped Wednesday’s televised hearing, preferring instead to keep working, according to the White House spokesperson, as reported by News 18. “He’s in the Oval (Office) in meetings. Not watching. He’s working,” Stephanie Grisham said more than an hour into the public hearing in Congress.

Trump, who greeted Turkish President Recep Tayyep Erodgan at the White House when the hearing was on, said he was “too busy” to watch the “witch hunt” impeachment hearing.