By BBC
US senators have been accused of falling asleep, playing games and breaking other rules during President Donald Trump's impeachment trial.
Jim Risch and Jim Inhofe are among members who have apparently nodded off during the lengthy hearings.
Crossword puzzles, fidget spinners and at least one paper airplane have been spotted with senators. The trial has heard that Mr Trump's alleged abuse of power threatens American democracy.
The senators are acting as the jury to decide whether the president should be removed from office. The upper chamber of US Congress prides itself as a hallowed sanctum of decorum.
But some of its members - Republican and Democrat alike - have this week been accused by US media of acting like bored schoolchildren. The rules call for senators to remain seated during the impeachment trial.
But at least nine Democrats and 22 Republicans left their seats at various times on Thursday, according to Reuters news agency. They included Democratic White House hopefuls Bernie Sanders, Amy Klobuchar and Michael Bennet.
Marsha Blackburn, a Tennessee Republican, defended herself on Thursday after she was spotted reading a book in the chamber. She tweeted that the tome - How Trump Haters Are Breaking America, by Kim Strassel - "provides good insights into today's proceedings"."Busy mamas are the best at multi-tasking," she added. "Try it."
Mr Risch, a Republican who chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, was seen this week slumped motionless with his eyes closed at his desk during the hearings. A spokesman for the Idaho senator denied he had been asleep, telling the Wall Street Journal he was just listening closely "with his eyes closed or cast down".

