McConnell eyes quick impeachment trial in Senate
Source: Politico
By BURGESS EVERETT
10/16/2019 03:07 PM EDT
Updated: 10/16/2019 03:39 PM EDT
Senate Republicans are preparing for a speedy impeachment trial that concludes before the end of the year.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told Senate Republicans on Wednesday that he expects Speaker Nancy Pelosi to approve articles of impeachment as early as Thanksgiving, according to five people familiar with Wednesdays party lunch. McConnell then surmised that the Senate could deal with the trial by Christmas, concluding the impeachment proceedings before the Democratic presidential primaries begin.
While they said theres no deal between Pelosi and McConnell, Republican senators believe its in both parties interest to move quickly.
He thinks Democrats are of the same mind: lets not drag this out for five weeks, said one attendee of the lunch.
McConnells comments and PowerPoint presentation on Wednesday were in part an acknowledgment that impeachment is exceedingly likely to come to the Senate, and much of the discussion centered on the ins and outs of Senate procedure.
Read more: https://www.politico.com/news/2019/10/16/mcconnell-impeachment-trial-senate-048599
beachbumbob
(9,263 posts)what ever the democrats are doing behind closed doors with hearings will be brought before the american people and replicated on TV everywhere. This done by Thanksgiving? Hardly.
Its laughable
Texin
(2,585 posts)Once the impeachment resolution reaches the Senate, it will be met with dispatch by Moscow Mitch. Make tRump and his feckless accomplices sweat this until their eyes bleed and they all start melting like the Wicked Witch of the West.
True Blue American
(17,972 posts)There is no reason at all for the House to hurry.
Swalwell just said no investigation was ever decided by the one being investigated.
Trump is hanging himself.
docgee
(870 posts)Add a little spice like ghouliani getting indicted.
keithbvadu2
(36,371 posts)Schumer: Senate republicans promising not to convict Trump under any circumstances
Jury nullification
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100212588312
lagomorph777
(30,613 posts)Raven123
(4,716 posts)MCConnells personal interests are not a part of that calculation.
orangecrush
(19,237 posts)bronxiteforever
(9,287 posts)So a multitude of witnesses ignore subpoenas and refuse to provide evidence and Speaker Pelosi is just going to let that slide! That is laughable.
No way is this going to go fast as long as stonewalling and coverups are the foundation of GOP policy. These subpoenas have to go through courts before the witnesses can testify.
If McConnell thinks its our Partys interest to proceed fast, you can bet that is the GOP spin to screw us.
Everyday new crimes are emerging. Keep up the investigation
noneof_theabove
(410 posts)If you do not show up for court [driving ticket, murder, anything else] you automatically LOSE by default!
All who are refusing to show up are moved into this Article #? of the impeachment.
And they may be risking that they may be arrested when it is all over.
Yes, refusing a subpoena to Congress is a chargeable offense.
AncientGeezer
(2,146 posts)That's not a thing. Failure to appear does NOT mean automatic conviction under any rule of jurisprudence...there is no guilty by default clause...except maybe on a Loan, small claims case.
bronxiteforever
(9,287 posts)jmowreader
(50,453 posts)If you dont appear on a criminal matter, they charge you with Failure to Appear (a crime) and wait until you show up to hold the trial.
When you do show up, your charge sheet looks a lot like the one in the Trial of Captain Sternn in the movie Heavy Metal - this huge long list of terrible crimes, and at the end and one moving violation.
Trials in absentia (what you describe) are extremely rare and only done if the defendant disappears in the middle of the trial.
alfredo
(60,065 posts)bronxiteforever
(9,287 posts)Congresss inherent contempt power, which means relying on the legislatures own constitutional authority to detain and jail a contemnor until the individual complies with congressional demands. What does that actually look like? Its not very prettywhich is why the inherent contempt process has not been used by either body since 1935, when a Herbert Hoover administration official was held briefly in the Willard Hotel. While there is no Capitol Jail, the Capitol Police do maintain a holding cell a few blocks away at the Capitol Police Department. At the current moment, the prospect of the House sending the sergeant-at-arms of the Capitol to arrest an administration official would likely not sit well with a public that does not favor physical confrontation in U.S. politics.
https://www.lawfareblog.com/congressional-subpoena-power-and-executive-privilege-coming-showdown-between-branches
alfredo
(60,065 posts)Lonestarblue
(9,882 posts)The Chief Justice does, and I would think he will determine the extent of evidence to be presented. Unless McConnell has some secret agreement with Roberts to rush a trial with very little evidence presented, McConnell would not have much control of the trial.
BumRushDaShow
(127,331 posts)the Chief Justice is only serving in a ceremonial role to preside over the impeachment trial. The Senate Rules will be what governs how the proceedings are carried out, so unfortunately, Turtle and the GOP will be controlling the shots.
True Blue American
(17,972 posts)Speak during the trial and that would be hard on some of them.
Lindsey Graham went on the 700 Club this morning,said he would be his best friend but would be his biggest antagonist if he left the Kurds out to dry!
BumRushDaShow
(127,331 posts)with quotes from self-same Graham basically throwing the Kurds under the bus.
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100212570382
True Blue American
(17,972 posts) Lindsey is in a quandary! He is trying to find his soul!
BumRushDaShow
(127,331 posts)AncientGeezer
(2,146 posts)He's a referee basically. Stops a fist fight from breaking out, could say the House prosecutors are out of order..but won't make the Senate do anything.
The reason the Chief Justice presides is so the VP doesn't...for obvious reason like being President of the Senate.
bucolic_frolic
(42,681 posts)Mr.Bill
(24,104 posts)it would take from Thanksgiving to Christmas just to read the charges.
abqtommy
(14,118 posts)yaesu
(8,020 posts)hold this over his head right up to the elections and right before the election leak enough to make tRump look like he's truly going down.
mitch96
(13,822 posts)donny tantRump needs a one way ticket to Moscow....... after serving time....
m
olddad65
(599 posts)htuttle
(23,738 posts)Bwahahahaha! No way -- would they? He'd totally have a Code Red moment, even if he wasn't called to testify.
He'll just jump up out of his chair and start shouting, lol.
Mc Mike
(9,107 posts)try to get back to you soon as possible. 4th week in October of next year is looking good, right now.
Good luck in your campaign.
RockRaven
(14,784 posts)in the lead-up to the end of the year and impeach Trump *just* before the Christmas holiday? Give everyone something to talk about with their extended family -- while the evidence is all laid out and the discussion is framed by the Dem House?
dchill
(38,324 posts)Bradical79
(4,490 posts)If Trump and his cronies would stop commiting crimes, it would be easier to put a timetable on this. I wonder if Nancy Pelosi has been surprised at all the tendrels that have been uncovered in what was supposed to be a more simple and straightforward case.
TryLogic
(1,721 posts)behind Pence -- unless the white haired slime ball is also impeached. In any case, regroup behind someone.