Read: Trump slams impeachment as ‘perversion of justice and abuse of power’ in letter to Pelosi

Credit: DaytonDailyNews

President Donald Trump slammed ongoing impeachment efforts in a letter sent Tuesday to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, saying its continuance was equivalent to “declaring open war on American Democracy.”

"More due process was afforded to those accused in the Salem Witch Trials," Trump wrote in the six-page letter.

The letter was released as House Democrats and Republicans sparred over the rules of debate for Wednesday's historic votes on impeaching Trump. The Democratic-majority House Rules Committee met through the day Tuesday, with lawmakers arguing over the parameters for Wednesday's debate, which is expected to culminate in votes to make Trump the third president to be impeached in American history.

"It's a hoax, the whole impeachment thing," Trump told reporters Tuesday.

House Democrats launched the impeachment inquiry in September to investigate whether Trump abused his power by pressuring Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to announce investigations into former Vice President Joe Biden and Biden’s son, Hunter, and their connection to a Ukrainian energy company in exchange for an invitation to the White House and a military aid package.

Trump has denied any wrongdoing.

Read the letter Trump sent Tuesday to Pelosi:

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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