Republican-controlled U.S. Senate rejects Democratic efforts to obtain documents and evidence in President  Trump’s impeachment

The Republican-controlled U.S. Senate has rejected three Democratic efforts to obtain documents and evidence in President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial.

As the third impeachment trial in U.S. history began in earnest, senators voted 53-47 along party lines to block three separate motions from Democratic leader Chuck Schumer to subpoena records and documents from the White House, the State Department and the Office of Management and Budget related to Trump’s dealings with Ukraine.

Democrats have called on the Senate to remove Trump from office for pressuring Ukraine to investigate former Democratic Vice President Joe Biden, a political rival, and then impeding the inquiry into the matter.

Trump, who was impeached last month by the Democratic-led House of Representatives on charges of abusing power and obstructing Congress, denies any wrongdoing and describes his impeachment as a partisan hoax to derail his 2020 re-election effort.