Democrats are divided over the timing of the impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump in the Senate, worried that this could undermine President Biden’s ability to implement his agenda in the early days of his administration.
In the absence of a broader agreement between the leaders, Senate rules dictate that during impeachment, which usually lasts weeks, senators must meet six days a week, taking only Sunday off, potentially harming the new administration. Biden signaled that he was exploring ways to advance his plan to address the double economic and health crisis, while still seeking impeachment.
“We are confident that, just as the American people can, the Senate can also perform various tasks and fulfill its constitutional duty while continuing to conduct the business of the American people,” said White House press secretary Jen Psaki on Wednesday, hours after Biden’s inauguration. “He will leave the mechanics to Congress on how to move forward with impeachment.”
Although Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer, DN.Y., has indicated that he is open to establishing a new set of rules that would allow lawmakers to split the time between the trial and the legislative business of confirming Biden’s nominees – ” we have to change the agenda as well, “he said recently – it seems unlikely that Republicans will support such a movement.
“No,” Senator John Cornyn, R-Texas, tweeted in response to Psaki saying that “the Senate can multitask.”
This puts Democrats in a dead end, forcing them to decide whether to prioritize a second impeachment trial for Trump, whose presidency ended on Wednesday, or whether to put Biden’s agenda into practice while controlling the two chambers of Congress for next two years.
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House Democrats, accompanied by 10 Republicans, voted to impeach Trump last week on charges of inciting insurrection after the violent attack on the Capitol that left five people, including a U.S. Capitol Police officer, dead. They are still considering when to send the impeachment article to the Senate to formally start a trial. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has indicated that it will be “soon”.
Several Democrats argued that they should push to quickly confirm Biden’s nominees for top positions and approve another coronavirus aid package when the US death toll exceeds 400,000, rather than focusing on impeaching a president who is already in office. out of office.
“My clear preference is to create space for nominations and legislation,” said Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., This week. “I’m going to move on to the leadership, but I don’t know if we have to start the trial right after taking office.”
Senator Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., Called Trump’s impeachment a “debatable issue” because his term ended on Wednesday.
“I think it’s a debatable issue – this president is stepping down,” Feinstein told reporters this week. “So it will have no practical application. But whatever happens, everything is fine with me.”
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Meanwhile, Senator Joe Manchin, DW.Va., an important moderate who is expected to become a powerful member of the 50-50 Senate, said earlier this month that an impeachment trial after Trump stepped down “does not do any.” any common sense. ”
“I was concerned about having impeachment at a time when we needed to reunite our government and restore confidence in our government,” he said on Tuesday, calling on Biden to “restore stability and build confidence”.
But Schumer, speaking at the Senate floor on Tuesday, maintained that lawmakers have “a solemn responsibility to hold Donald Trump responsible for the most serious charge ever brought against a president: inciting an insurrection against the United States of America”.
He indicated that Democrats had already decided to proceed with a Senate trial, although he did not speak about the specific moment.
“There will be an impeachment trial in the United States Senate. There will be a vote on the president’s conviction for serious crimes and misdemeanors,” he said. “And if the president is convicted, there will be a vote to prevent him from running again.”
At least 17 Republicans would have to join all 50 Democrats to condemn Trump. Thereafter, lawmakers could vote to prevent him from taking public office again with a simple majority.
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It is highly unlikely – although it is not out of the question – that a test can begin this week. But Schumer and minority leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., Have yet to work on a universal operating deal for the 50-50 Senate, where Vice President Kamala Harris can cast a tiebreaker vote. Their pact on how to manage the upper house may determine when the trial begins.
On the first day of the session since the Capitol insurrection, the Senate made some progress in the confirmation process for the Biden Office, with hearings for five of its nominees, including the Department of the Treasury, the Pentagon and the State Department.
Democrats are seeking quick confirmation from several nominees, especially those dealing with national security issues. So far, only one of Biden’s nominees – Avril Haines as director of national intelligence – has been confirmed.