Daily US Times, Washington: All one hundred members of US Senate took oath in on Thursday as jurors for the impending impeachment trial of President Donald Trump.

John Roberts, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, administered the oath to the senators to “do impartial justice”.

Trump’s impeachment ball is now in Senate’s court. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi sent the articles of impeachment to the Senate. Now Senate will run a trial that will ultimately decide whether Mr Trump should be removed from office or not.

The Senate trial will begin on 21 January.

Justice Roberts asked the senators, “Do you solemnly swear that in all things appertaining to the trial of the impeachment of Donald John Trump, President of the United States, now pending, you will do impartial justice according to the Constitution and the laws, so help you God?”

The lawmakers responded with “I do” before each signing in a book that they took the oath. Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell then adjourned the pre-trial proceedings and announced the trial would begin at 13:00 EST (18:00 GMT) on Tuesday.

What’s the background?

Democrats alleged that President Trump pressured Ukraine in a phone call with his counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky. Trump withheld $391m (£299m) in military aid in order to pressure Ukraine to investigate his political rival, Joe Biden.

He is the third impeached president for misuse of office while the previous two were Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton.

Two-thirds of majority in the Senate would be required for removing a President from office. In the case of Trump, it is highly unlikely because his party holds the majority in the Senate.

Democrats announced their team to prosecute Trump, but Republicans are yet to announce theirs.

The trial is likely to still be underway next month when Iowa and New Hampshire hold the first party votes to pick the eventual Democratic presidential candidate who will take on President Trump in November’s election.