McConnell: I Have Votes For Trial Without Witnesses

The New York Times reports:

Senator Mitch McConnell, the majority leader, informed Republicans on Tuesday that he planned to move forward with President Trump’s impeachment trial without committing to additional witnesses or admitting new evidence, over the objections of Democrats who are insisting on both.

Mr. McConnell shared his intentions with senators over lunch in the Capitol, declaring that he had the votes he needed — including among moderate Republicans — to proceed with the trial while putting off a final decision on witnesses or new evidence.

That would mean the Senate would tackle those questions after representatives of the House and the president make opening arguments and senators question both sides. Notably, the plan offers no guarantee that senators will hear new testimony beyond what the House’s inquiry gathered last fall.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., says he has the votes to establish rules for a Senate impeachment trial of President Trump without support from Democrats, and that he’s abandoned attempts to reach an agreement with Minority Leader Schumer. https://t.co/LNI9Vp8Boa

— NPR (@NPR) January 7, 2020

Reminder of this @tribelaw tweet: McConnell can say whatever he wants about the rules for the Senate trial itself, but he needs 67 Senate votes to change the rule that allows Pelosi to hold the Articles of Impeachment. https://t.co/VbuczqNk48

— Uncle Blazer (@blakesmustache) January 7, 2020

“Whoever heard of a trial without witnesses and documents? It’s unprecedented.”

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer says he and Majority Leader Mitch McConnell “have very different visions about what it means to conduct a fair trial.” https://t.co/vTZuyr7OFt pic.twitter.com/yYlmHPU6b9

— ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) January 7, 2020

.@senatemajldr why do you insist on undermining our democracy?

The American people want to know.https://t.co/XMJrN4tbDm

— Rep. Sylvia Garcia (@RepSylviaGarcia) January 7, 2020

51 votes for a kangaroo court?
Ridiculous.

McConnell says he has the votes to set impeachment trial rules without Democratic support – CNNPolitics https://t.co/N1QPq7o4do

— Richard W. Painter (@RWPUSA) January 7, 2020

It’s almost as though this House Democrat majority systematically took all of the framers’ warnings about partisan abuses of the impeachment power & thought, “sure, let’s do that.”

The American people deserve better. pic.twitter.com/p8nJDOGZtm

— Leader McConnell (@senatemajldr) January 7, 2020