Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell proposed a deal to halt Senate proceedings so both sides can properly prepare for Trump’s second impeachment trial.
What We Know:
- According to NBC, McConnell suggested the idea on Thursday to Majority Leader Chuck Schumer during a conference call with Republican colleagues. The move would push Trump’s Senate impeachment trial to mid-February.
McConnell also released a statement saying, “At this time of strong political passions, Senate Republicans believe it is absolutely imperative that we do not allow a half-baked process to short-circuit the due process that former President Trump deserves or damage the Senate or the presidency.”
- This decision combats the actions of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Pelosi said on Friday that her nine House prosecutors are “ready to begin to make their case” against the 45th president. She stated that they will send the article of impeachment against Donald Trump to the Senate on Monday, triggering the start of the Senate trial on a charge of incitement of insurrection over the deadly Capitol riot that occurred on January 6th.
- In order to convict Trump, Democrats would need the support of at least 17 Republicans. While most Republican senators condemned Trump’s incitement of violence at the Capitol, only a handful are open to the idea of conviction. The trial will be divisive and questions the legality of trying a president after he has left office.
- White House communications director Kate Bedingfield commented that President Joe Biden will leave the decision up to Senate leadership. Biden wants the Senate to conduct the trial in a way that allows it to move quickly in an effort to focus on passing Covid-19 relief legislation.
Trump has hired South Carolina attorney Butch Bowers to represent him but has yet to announce the members of his defense team.
