The Democrats have claimed that Donald Trump could abuse his presidential powers again if he is not impeached over the "brazen" Ukraine scandal.

Spelling out their case for removing the US president in detail, a top lawyer for the party argued that what Mr Trump had done was a "big deal" and should not go unpunished.

Barry Berke, a Democratic counsel for the House Judiciary Committee - which handles impeachment - argued that Mr Trump had "betrayed" the national interest and broken his oath of office.

He added there was "overwhelming" evidence that the president had attempted to pressure the Ukrainian president to order investigations into a political opponent, the Democrat Joe Biden, for personal political benefit.

"President Trump's actions are impeachable offences. They threaten our rule of law. They threaten our institutions. And ... they threaten our Republic," Mr Berke said.

He also warned that if Mr Trump "can get away" with what he did "our imagination is the only limit to what President Trump may do next or what a future president may do next to abuse his powers."