Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) compared the situation as follows: “Imagine if the call from Ukraine was broadcast over the Internet.” And considering how persistent most members of both parties are, he noted, “No it is clear to me there is any evidence that will change someone’s opinion. ”
Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer and minority leader Mitch McConnell are still arguing about how to organize the trial, so it’s not even right whether the Senate will vote on the witness’s question or whether someone will force one at the start of the trial.
But for now, the trial should not last more than a week, although that may change if witnesses are brought in. Some Senate Democrats have called for an immediate trial, citing other priorities such as coronavirus relief and the extreme likelihood that 17 Republicans will join them in Trump’s sentencing. Meanwhile, the majority of Republicans are uniting around the argument that a former president’s impeachment is unconstitutional.
“Both sides would like to end the matter quickly,” said John Thune (RS.D.), leader of the Senate minority. “If they want to call witnesses, it certainly prolongs it. And I think you’re talking about moving forward next week, maybe next week, because then both sides will have that option available to them. ”
Senate Democrats, Yet, will largely give in to the House’s impeachment managers on the issue of witnesses. Managers have not yet said publicly whether they want to bring in external witnesses to make their case against Trump, or whether they will simply rely on videos and public comments from the former president as evidence. The impeachment manager, Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), Called Trump on Thursday to testify, but the former president rejected the request.
It remains to be seen whether the administrators of the House’s impeachment pressure the Senate to hold a vote to summon Trump. But some Senate Democrats are already suggesting that they don’t have much interest in hearing from him.
“I don’t know what I would add,” said Sen. Angus King (I-Maine), who is arguing with Democrats.
“A simply terrible idea,” added Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.). “He’s going to commit perjury, so he’s the one at risk. But I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed my first full free week of Trump in the past five years. “
The witness debate last year consumed Trump’s first impeachment trial, which lasted nearly three weeks. Senate Republicans decided to question whether they would bring witnesses by the end of the trial. In the end, only two Republicans – Sens. Mitt Romney of Utah and Susan Collins of Maine – joined the Democrats in the vote to allow officials like John Bolton to testify, leaving Democrats without the necessary 51 votes.
Democratic senators argued that external witnesses were needed to understand the extent to which Trump pressured Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to investigate his Democratic rivals, including Joe Biden, in exchange for much-needed help. This time, they recount how their own lives were put at risk by troublemakers and watched Trump’s response in real time.
“This is a unique situation in which we are all witnesses and also victims,” said Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Who added that she wants to “hear how the House wants to present its case”.
The process surrounding the second impeachment trial is also different. The House spent two months between the start of its investigation and the final impeachment vote investigating Trump’s request and withholding his government’s aid to Ukraine, holding several hearings and requesting White House documents – requests that the Trump administration ignored. For the January 6 uprising, the House voted to impeach Trump a week later and never conducted a formal inquiry.
Perhaps the most striking difference is that Trump is no longer in office. The Senate has never held an impeachment trial for a former president – although many lawyers, including some from the conservative Federalist Society, argue that the chamber can still convict Trump. Democrats say the Senate needs to hold Trump accountable and prevent him from running for public office again. Even if the trial does not result in condemnation, Democrats stress that it will provide the public with a January 6 record.
While hardly anyone expects the trial to drag on, Democrats are not closing the door on witnesses. In interviews this week, some senators said they would support bringing individuals to testify if they could provide new information. However, they added that it is not up to them to advise the House’s impeachment managers.
“I will not object if they want to bring witnesses,” said Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.). “I think it is not my decision, it is their decision.”
Trump’s legal team, for its part, should not press for witnesses. But senators say they will be open to your request.
“If he and his team think they need it, it is not a fair trial if you say ‘no, you cannot have it’,” said Sen. Tim Kaine. (D-Va.) “I thought last year’s trial was a joke because they wouldn’t and should have, but just because the Republicans turned it into a scam a year ago, I’m not going to turn it into a scam now. ”
Andrew Desiderio contributed to this report.