President Donald Trump stands accused of corruptly pressuring Ukraine to investigate his political rival, former Vice President Joe Biden, and his son, Hunter.
Monday, his legal team tried to flip the script.
"What was Hunter Biden doing at Burisma in exchange for millions of dollars? Who knows?" said Eric Herschmann, a member of Trump's defense team.
Burisma is a Ukrainian energy company; Hunter Biden sat on its board while his father carried out U.S. policy there. Trump's attorneys say there was plenty of reason for concern, though no wrongdoing has ever been alleged.
"He was the son of the man in charge of the Ukrainian portfolio for the prior administration," Herschmann said. "And we are to believe there is nothing to see here, that for anyone to investigate or inquire about this would be a sham."
The Bidens were just one topic that a lineup of nine attorneys tackled Monday. There was an extended defense of former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani.
"In this trial, in this moment, Mr. Giuliani is just a minor player," said Jane Serene Raskin, an attorney for the president.
Kenneth Starr, who as independent counsel was central to President Bill Clinton's impeachment, said impeachment should be a last resort.
"Instead of a once-in-a-century phenomenon, which it had been, presidential impeachment has become a weapon to be wielded against one's political opponent," Starr said.
And polarizing attorney Alan Dershowitz laid out a constitutional argument he presented as unbiased.
"I would be making the very same constitutional argument had Hillary Clinton, for whom I voted, been elected and had a Republican House voted to impeach her on these unconstitutional grounds," Dershowitz said.
But Trump's team largely avoided the bombshell report that former national security advisor John Bolton's new book will directly contradict Trump's central argument that he never tied the investigations to the release of military aid for Ukraine.
That revelation is increasing pressure on Senate Republicans to allow for Bolton and other new witnesses to testify, a vote likely to come later in the week.
-----
FURTHER IMPEACHMENT COVERAGE
Impeachment Managers Make Case for Convicting Trump for Abuse of Power
Democrats Appeal for GOP to Help Convict Trump in Day 2 of Senate Impeachment Trial
Sen. Gillibrand Speaks On the Impeachment Process inside the Senate Chamber
Democrats Wrap Up Opening Arguments in Senate Impeachment Trial
Rep. Hakeem Jeffries's Star Is Rising as He Makes His Case in the Impeachment Trial
McConnell Allows House Evidence to be Included in Trump Impeachment Trial