KEY POINTS 53% of American voters say Trump is lying about Ukraine

52% believe Trump's withholding of U.S. aid to Ukraine isn't justified

75% of voters polled want witnesses to testify at the impeachment trial

Most Americans still have trouble believing president Donald Trump's version of events about Ukraine two weeks after Supreme Court chief justice John Roberts on January 16 swore-in all U.S. senators to do "impartial justice" to begin Trump’s impeachment trial.

A Quinnipiac University National Poll taken Jan. 22 to 27 finds 53 percent of American voters saying Trump is lying about Ukraine. On the other hand, 40 percent say otherwise.

The partisan political divide is evident here with 89 percent of Republicans saying Trump is telling the truth while 92 percent of Democrats say Trump is lying. Among Independents, 56 percent believe Trump is lying compared to 33 percent who hold the opposite view.

A full 57 percent of voters also want Trump to provide more details about Trump’s actions involving Ukraine. On the contrary, 38 percent say they're satisfied with Trump's explanation of events.

Most of those polled also believe the two articles of impeachment are true. Disturbing for Trump is the finding that 54 percent believe he abused his power in his actions involving Ukraine. Forty-two percent say he did not. A further 52 percent think Trump obstructed Congress regarding its investigation of his actions involving Ukraine. Those thinking he didn't accounted for 42 percent.

Fifty-two percent of voters believe the Trump administration's withholding of U.S. aid to Ukraine isn't justified, while a far smaller 34 percent say it is.

Most Americans also still want witnesses to testify at the Senate impeachment trial. The poll finds an overwhelming majority, or 75 percent of voters polled, want witnesses to testify. Only 25 percent disfavor the idea. This trial, however, might end as early as next week if Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell, R-KY, has his way and rejects the demand for witnesses. Support for witness testimony includes 95 percent of Democrats, 75 percent of Independents and, surprisingly, almost half or 49 percent of Republicans,

"There may be heated debate among lawmakers about whether witnesses should testify at the impeachment trial of President Trump, but it's a different story outside the Beltway," said Quinnipiac University Poll Analyst Mary Snow. "Three-quarters of American voters say witnesses should be allowed to testify, and that includes nearly half of Republican voters."

As for the Democrats wanting to beat Trump on November 3, the poll shows former vice president Joe Biden getting 26 percent of the vote among Democratic voters and Independent voters leaning Democratic. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-VT, is supported by 21 percent while Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-MA, is the choice of 15 percent of respondents.

Former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg receives eight percent, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-MN, receives seven percent, former South Bend mayor Pete Buttigieg gets six percent while businessman Andrew Yang gets three percent. No other candidate tops two percent.

Photo: AFP / Mandel NGAN