They say a week is a long time in politics. Three days into the impeachment trial of U.S. President Donald Trump feels longer than a week.

Certainly, it's been draining for the 100 senators who had to sit more than 12 hours at a time silently listening to the prosecution, known as the House managers, make their case. Lead prosecutor Adam Schiff probably had that in mind Thursday when he said: "I'm not sure that the Chief Justice is fully aware of just how rare it is, how extraordinary it is, for the House members to be able to command the attention of senators sitting silently for hours."

The chamber erupted into rare but genuine laughter, but Schiff continued: "Of course, it doesn't hurt that the morning starts out every day with the Sergeant at Arms warning you that if you don't, you will be imprisoned."

The president, though, does not face prison but possible removal from office. Prosecutors laid out their legal case hour after hour Thursday, but essentially, it boiled down to this:

"A president who uses his office to ask for, or even worse to compel foreign nations to interfere in our elections, is a president who attacks very foundation of our liberty," Democratic Representative Jerrold Nadler told the Senators turned Jury.

Nadler and six other Democratic case "managers" are arguing that Trump should be convicted of two articles of impeachment passed by the House last month – abuse of power and obstruction of Congress – for pressuring Ukraine to investigate Democratic rival Joe Biden last year, and impeding inquiries into the matter.

Trump's lawyers had to sit in uncharacteristic silence. They will not get their chance to present their case until Saturday and will have up to three days to defend their client. Fresh from his trip to the Swiss Alps and the Davis World Economic Forum, the U.S. president's tweetstorm set a new presidential record for the most tweets and retweets in a single day – more than a 140 on Wednesday – tapped out furiously in his own defense: "The Democrats & Shifty Schiff, whose presentation to the Senate was loaded with lies and misrepresentations, are refusing to state that the Obama Administration withheld aid from many countries, including Ukraine, Pakistan, Philippines, Egypt, Honduras, & Mexico. Witch Hunt!"

While the trial may be captivating Washington most Americans aren't following the proceedings. Every day the trial begins with the same words: "Hear Ye! Hear he!" But most appear to be expecting the inevitable conclusion that the Republican majority will acquit the president and the U.S. politicians – and the political junkies gripped by this sometimes stupefying spectacle – can start worrying about Trump's re-election campaign.