Trump withheld payment with the purpose of getting Ukraine to start and to publicly announce an investigation into Biden and Ukraine interference into the 2016 election (That's quite ironic isn't it?). We have witnesses saying that Ukraine officials were told this. This is a fact. The direct ties to Trump are not as strong from witnesses. We have Sondland (Who has shown no problem lying under oath for trump, unless he's caught and the individual who over heard a phone conversation). All other direct witnesses have been blocked from testifying by trump in order to insulate him from the truth. However only an idiot could look at all the evidence and not know trump was behind everything.
Republican best attempted defenses:
1. You can't prove it. A number of people working under trump believed it and told Ukraine what it needed to do. The preponderance of evidence points to trump. There is some direct evidence to trump. ( This despite Trump's significant obstruction of justice by blocking testimony from major players.)
2 Diversion (This is a political not legal response) Schiff lied, we want to talk to the whistle blower, Biden is corrupt, process is unfair, partisan attack, the dems have been trying to get rid of trump since he was elected and these are never trumpers. None of these arguments are relevant to whether trump is guilty.
3 Trump has a right and duty to go after corruption regardless of who it is. This defense is somewhat laughable based on the focused nature (only things that would help trump-biden), the limited evidence to warrant an investigation and the sneaky behind the channels method he chose to pursue this.
4 Ukraine got the money and Zelensky said he wasn't pressured. The money was released only after an investigation was started. Zelensky could not admit to being pressured for political reasons in his country and because the wrath of trump still exists.
5 (The best Republican defense) yes trump is slime and broke rules but they don't reach the level of an impeachable offense. Many would think holding back needed and legally approved money from a country under attack for Trump's personal benefit and obstructing justice by preventing the truth to come out is very serious betrayal of our nation.
Congress needs to do It's job and the American people need to understand and demand ethical and legal behavior from its president. We are better than Trump.