Former president Donald Trump's lawyers declined to comply with a request from House Democrats on Thursday that he give evidence under oath in the Senate impeachment trial next week.
Lawyers Bruce Castor and David Schoen called the request by House impeachment managers a "public relations stunt" and the entire trial an "unconstitutional proceeding".
"Your letter only confirms what is known to everyone: you cannot prove your allegations against the 45th President of the United States, who is now a private citizen," they said.
The impeachment managers, referring to a pre-trial brief filed on Tuesday, asked Mr Trump to address his legal team's denial of claims made in the article of impeachment concerning the events of January 6, when a deadly pro-Trump riot occurred at the US Capitol.
"Two days ago, you filed an answer in which you denied many factual allegations set forth in the article of impeachment," read the letter from Jamie Raskin, a Democrat from Maryland.
Mr Raskin is lead impeachment manager on a team of nine Democratic representatives who have the task of organising the charge against Mr Trump when the Senate trial begins on February 9.
"You have thus attempted to put critical facts at issue, notwithstanding the clear and overwhelming evidence of your constitutional offence," he wrote.
"The use of our constitution to bring a purported impeachment proceeding is much too serious to try to play these games," Mr Castor and Mr Schoen responded.
It is not yet clear how the Democratic impeachment managers will move forward – holding the trial without Mr Trump or voting to subpoena him.
The House charged the former president with "incitement of insurrection" over the violent events of January 6, when a mob stormed the legislative building after Mr Trump gave a speech outside the White House.
Five people died in the riot, including a US Capitol Police officer.
In the pre-trial brief, the former president's legal team claimed that Mr Trump had not incited the crowd of his supporters to riot.
"In light of your disputing these factual allegations, I write to invite you to provide testimony under oath, either before or during the Senate impeachment trial, concerning your conduct on January 6, 2021," the letter from Mr Raskin says.
The team asked that Mr Trump give evidence as early as February 8, before the trial starts, or as late as February 11.
"If you decline this invitation, we reserve any and all rights, including the right to establish at trial that your refusal to testify supports a strong adverse inference regarding your actions [and inaction] on January 6, 2021," Mr Raskin wrote.
Mr Castor and Mr Schoen responded to that assertion, declaring "there is no such thing as a negative interference in this unconstitutional proceeding".
For a conviction to pass, at least two thirds of the Senate has to vote for it, meaning 67 senators are needed to convict.
This may be a challenge, with low support in the Republican Party for the trial.
The Senate is split 50-50 between Republican and Democrat senators, with Vice President Kamala Harris casting the deciding vote.
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Produced: Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Rajkumar Hirani
Director: Rajkumar Hirani
Cast: Ranbir Kapoor, Vicky Kaushal, Paresh Rawal, Anushka Sharma, Manish’s Koirala, Dia Mirza, Sonam Kapoor, Jim Sarbh, Boman Irani
Rating: 3.5 stars
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Avatar: Fire and Ash
Director: James Cameron
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Emirates flies from Dubai to Seattle from Dh5,555 return, including taxes. Portland is a 260 km drive from Seattle and Emirates offers codeshare flights to Portland with its partner Alaska Airlines.
The car
Hertz (www.hertz.ae) offers compact car rental from about $300 per week, including taxes. Emirates Skywards members can earn points on their car hire through Hertz.
Parks and accommodation
For information on Crater Lake National Park, visit www.nps.gov/crla/index.htm. Because of the altitude, large parts of the park are closed in winter due to snow. While the park’s summer season is May 22-October 31, typically, the full loop of the Rim Drive is only possible from late July until the end of October. Entry costs $25 per car for a day. For accommodation, see www.travelcraterlake.com. For information on Umpqua Hot Springs, see www.fs.usda.gov and https://soakoregon.com/umpqua-hot-springs/. For Bend, see https://www.visitbend.com/.
2:01:39: Eliud Kipchoge (KEN) on 16/9/19 in Berlin
2:02:57: Dennis Kimetto (KEN) on 28/09/2014 in Berlin
2:03:23: Wilson Kipsang (KEN) on 29/09/2013 in Berlin
2:03:38: Patrick Makau (KEN) on 25/09/2011 in Berlin
2:03:59: Haile Gebreselassie (ETH) on 28/09/2008 in Berlin
2:04:26: Haile Gebreselassie (ETH) on 30/09/2007 in Berlin
2:04:55: Paul Tergat (KEN) on 28/09/2003 in Berlin
2:05:38: Khalid Khannouchi (USA) 14/04/2002 in London
2:05:42: Khalid Khannouchi (USA) 24/10/1999 in Chicago
2:06:05: Ronaldo da Costa (BRA) 20/09/1998 in Berlin
THE SPECS
Engine: AMG-enhanced 3.0L inline-6 turbo with EQ Boost and electric auxiliary compressor
Transmission: nine-speed automatic
Power: 429hp
Torque: 520Nm
Price: Dh360,200 (starting)
Key facilities
Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
Premier League-standard football pitch
400m Olympic running track
NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
600-seat auditorium
Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
Specialist robotics and science laboratories
AR and VR-enabled learning centres
Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
THE 12 BREAKAWAY CLUBS
England
Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur
Italy
AC Milan, Inter Milan, Juventus
Spain
Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, Real Madrid
UAE SQUAD
Omar Abdulrahman (Al Hilal), Ali Khaseif, Ali Mabkhout, Salem Rashed, Khalifa Al Hammadi, Khalfan Mubarak, Zayed Al Ameri, Mohammed Al Attas (Al Jazira), Khalid Essa, Ahmed Barman, Ryan Yaslam, Bandar Al Ahbabi (Al Ain), Habib Fardan, Tariq Ahmed, Mohammed Al Akbari (Al Nasr), Ali Saleh, Ali Salmin (Al Wasl), Adel Al Hosani, Ali Hassan Saleh, Majed Suroor (Sharjah), Ahmed Khalil, Walid Abbas, Majed Hassan, Ismail Al Hammadi (Shabab Al Ahli), Hassan Al Muharrami, Fahad Al Dhahani (Bani Yas), Mohammed Al Shaker (Ajman)
Open Men (bonus points in brackets)
New Zealand 125 (1) beat UAE 111 (3)
India 111 (4) beat Singapore 75 (0)
South Africa 66 (2) beat Sri Lanka 57 (2)
Australia 126 (4) beat Malaysia -16 (0)
Open Women
New Zealand 64 (2) beat South Africa 57 (2)
England 69 (3) beat UAE 63 (1)
Australia 124 (4) beat UAE 23 (0)
New Zealand 74 (2) beat England 55 (2)
