Donald Trump called a 'dictator' by top Democrat in impeachment probe as debate on charges begins

Donald Trump has been branded a “dictator” by a top Democrat involved in the impeachment probe into the president.

Jerrold Nadler, the Democratic chairman of the House of Representatives judiciary panel, said Mr Trump “stonewalled” Congress after abusing his power.

Mr Nadler’s remarks came as he opened a meeting of the committee, which has begun debating charges for impeachment expected to be brought against the US leader next week.

"If the president can first abuse his power and then stonewall all congressional requests for information, Congress cannot fulfil its duty to act as a check and balance against the executive and the president becomes a dictator," Mr Nadler said in opening remarks.

The House Judiciary Committee was meeting to consider two articles, which accuse Trump of abusing his power by trying to force Ukraine to investigate political rival Joe Biden and of obstructing Congress when lawmakers tried to look into the matter.

The committee is expected to approve the charges on Thursday and the full Democratic-led House is likely to follow suit next week, making Mr Trump the third president in US history to be impeached.

Following the House vote, charges will go to the Senate for a trial. The Republican-led chamber is unlikely to vote to remove Mr Trump from office.

The committee's top Republican, Doug Collins, accused Democrats of being predisposed toward impeachment and argued that the evidence did not support it.

“You can’t make your case against the president because nothing happened,” he said.

Mr Trump has denied wrongdoing and condemned the impeachment inquiry as a hoax, but Democratic Representative Pramila Jayapal said his misconduct was in plain sight.

"The president was the first and best witness in this case. The president admitted to his wrongdoing and corrupt intent on national television," she said.

"The president is the smoking gun.”

Democrats spent much of Wednesday evening denouncing Mr Trump's conduct and shaming Republicans for defending him, while Republicans railed against what they see as a partisan and unjust inquiry.

"President Trump's high crimes threaten our democracy," said Democratic Representative Hank Johnson. "I'm a black man representing Georgia, born when Jim Crow was alive and well. To me the idea that elections can be undermined is not theoretical," referring to the era of racial segregation.

Republican Jim Jordan contended the process was being driven by animus toward Mr Trump and his allies.

"They don't like us - that's what this is about," Mr Jordan said. "They don't like the president's supporters, and they dislike us so much they're willing to weaponise the government."

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