Leading Republicans took to the talk show circuit Sunday to defend their expected acquittal of US President Donald Trump at his Senate trial next week — despite offering sharp criticism of his role in the Ukraine scandal. The president was impeached in December for abuse of power over pressuring ally Kiev to announce investigations that would have helped him politically, including into Joe Biden, a leading challenger in this year’s presidential ballot. A day ahead of the Iowa Democratic caucuses — the official start of the election season — key Republican senators including Lamar Alexander and Joni Ernst said Trump’s behavior was troubling but not impeachable.
