Washington:

The US Senate reached a deal Saturday that prevented witness testimony in Donald Trump’s impeachment trial, avoiding a delay that threatened to extend the procedure by days or even weeks.

Instead of calling witnesses, the House impeachment managers and Trump’s defense team agreed to admit into the record a statement by Republican congresswoman Jamie Herrera Beutler about a phone call in which House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy implored then-President Trump to call off the rioters.

The agreement cleared the way for the beginning of closing arguments in the trial, and a final vote on whether to convict Trump is now expected later Saturday.

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