Senators say a second historic impeachment trial for former President Trump
Donald TrumpTwitter permanently suspends the account of the founder of Gateway Pundit. The Wyoming Republican Party censors Cheney about Trump’s impeachment vote. Trump’s access to intelligence briefings will be determined by officials, says the White House: report MORE it can only last a matter of days, in what appears to be a quick process.
Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer
Chuck SchumerOver 60 progressive groups urge Schumer to obstructionist nix Booker reintroduces bill to give all newborns, 000 savings accounts Sanders, Ocasio-Cortez, Blumenauer intend to demand that Biden declare a climate emergency MORE (DN.Y.) and minority leader Mitch McConnell
Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellRepublicans seek to punch Democrats in reopening schools The Republican Party blames the White House team for the lack of a COVID-19 relief deal. (R-Ky.) They are still trying to reach an agreement on the organization of the trial, which is scheduled to start on Tuesday.
But senators are signaling that they want to end this quickly, suggesting that it could last for about a week. Democrats, while claiming Trump’s judgment is necessary, are also focusing their political energy on approving coronavirus relief.
“I just can’t imagine it going beyond a week,” said the senator. Kevin cramer
Kevin John CramerGOP blames the White House team for the lack of a relief agreement for COVID-19 Senate referee little known to play a major role in Biden’s relief plan The OMB nominee will be heard on February 9 MORE (RN.D.). “I don’t think there is much enthusiasm on the part of anyone.”
Sen. Chris Murphy
Christopher (Chris) Scott MurphySunday shows the preview: Budget resolution paves the way for the 0.9 trillion stimulus; Senate prepares for impeachment trial Five things you need to know about Biden’s move to Yemen Why school nurses are vital to stop the flow of school to prison MORE (D-Conn.), Asked about his preference for the length of the test, said: “I don’t think it needs to last more than a week.”
“A few days for each side would be enough,” he added.
Sen. Tom Carper
Thomas (Tom) Richard CarperFive conclusions from Senate budget marathon nominates first black Senate secretary 12:30 report from The Hill – Presented by Facebook – White House aims at climate change in today’s executive decrees MORE (D-Del.), A close ally of President Biden, said the trial should take “days”.
“The trial is not something that should take months or weeks. Days. Days. And then we can put the management team back in place, ”Carper told reporters.
The deal sought by McConnell and Schumer would establish a timeline for the first phase of the trial that includes opening arguments from both the impeachment managers of the House and Trump’s lawyers.
If the Senate does not vote to call witnesses, the trial can then quickly come to an end with potential motions from senators, deliberations on the charges, final arguments and then a vote on Trump’s conviction for serious crimes and misdemeanors.
House impeachment administrators invited Trump to testify, a request rejected by his lawyers. Democrats have yet to say whether they will ask to call more witnesses.
Trump’s first trial lasted 21 days – marking the shortest presidential impeachment trial at the time. The trial of then President Clinton lasted 37 days and the trial of President Johnson in 1868 lasted 83 days.
Structurally, the next test will be different, which may allow it to be faster. The Senate has already been installed as a jury and senator. Patrick Leahy
Patrick Joseph LeahyHarris takes the first tiebreaker votes while the Senate vice president appoints the first black secretary of the Senate Democrats offer resolution denouncing white supremacists before Trump’s trial MORE (D-Vt.) He was installed as president.
Republicans also cast a vote on the trial – on whether or not it is constitutional – although Republican Party senators have warned that they could force a similar vote against when the trial is underway.
And while Republicans’ attempts to prolong the trial may take additional days at the start of Biden’s presidency, key caucus members simply prefer to end the trial.
“What we’re hearing is that Democrats, at least ordinary Democrats, are saying that they don’t want to drag the issue. Most of them want to work on other things. … So it seems that the two sides are mutually interested in a shorter trial, ”said the senator. John Thune
John Randolph ThuneHouse votes to expel Greene from committees because of the adoption of conspiracy theories Republicans seek to play the vote-a-rama offensive The Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by Facebook – Cheney maintains the leadership position; Demons to punish Greene MORE (SD), Republican Senator No. 2, told The Hill, questioning whether that opened the door to closing until the first weekend after the trial began.
A Republican Party senator predicted that the trial could be held on Friday or Saturday because “that’s what both sides are likely to want to do”.
According to Trump’s 2020 impeachment rules package, both sides had 24 hours that could be spread out over three days to present their case. The senators had two days to ask questions.
McConnell, then the majority leader, initially planned to give both sides a piece for the initial arguments, but eventually backed off after bipartisan howls. If House impeachment managers or Trump’s legal team wanted to use their full time, this could have resulted in 12-hour sessions.
If the Senate fulfills the same agreement for Trump’s second trial, it would ensure that it lasts at least eight days, without the House’s impeachment managers, the former president’s legal team or the senators themselves giving in on time.
But senators are also entering virtually unknown territory as they prepare to hold a second impeachment trial for Trump, the first president to go through the process twice. It will also be the first time that a trial of a former president will be held and the first time that the president of the court will not preside over a presidential impeachment process.
The only impeachment article against Trump also cites public events, including the president’s speech on January 6, when he urged his supporters to march to the Capitol, where then Vice President Pence and members of Congress recounted the victory of the Electoral College of Biden.
Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) Told CNN that the trial will be brief because of the direct narrative.
“It will be a short test. It will be an open and closed and very direct set of evidence, consisting of what he said in his tweets before inviting and begging these people to come to the Capitol, ”said Blumenthal.
It is a change from 2020, when the articles involved intricate foreign policy, a long list of players and having to familiarize both legislators and the American people with a complicated and unfamiliar history.
“This is a very restricted set of facts. It is a narrow article. … We are not voting to remove the position of president and therefore I am not sure whether other precedents for previous trials remain, ”said Murphy.
Cramer, asked about the precedent, said he did not think that much time was needed, adding: “I don’t know why it would take so long.”
Another motivating factor for a quick trial is hovering over lawmakers: a week-long break from President’s Day. It is the first Senate break in 2021 and comes just before the House moves quickly to try to get a package of coronavirus to Biden’s table before federal unemployment benefits expire in mid-March.
“Thinking about the President’s Day break is one reason I think to do that, and I think it will probably be a motivating factor for both sides,” said Thune.
Sen. Tim Kaine
Timothy (Tim) Michael KaineOn The Money: Biden signals that he will move forward with relief from COVID-19 without GOP | Economy adds 49 thousand jobs in January | Minimum wage boost triggers Democratic divisions Minimum wage boost triggers Democratic divisions Senators examine Boston Mayor Walsh for Labor Secretary MORE (D-Va.) He suggested that the Senate could be in session for part, but not all, of the break, which would still place the trial around a week-long schedule since the trial starts on Tuesday.
“It looks like both sides want it to be reasonably short,” said Kaine. “So, they are thinking that we could go a little further to recess.”