Posted on 01/25/2021 4:39:18 PM PST by bimboeruption
Chief Justice John Roberts will not preside over Trump’s Senate impeachment trial.
If was previously reported that Roberts was eager to avoid presiding over the sham impeachment of Trump because he doesn’t want to become a political lightning rod.
Senate President Pro Tempore, Pat Leahy (VT) will preside over the sham trial instead.
The Hill reported:
A Senate source said Leahy, a former chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, is expected to preside at the trial.
A spokesman for Leahy said the decision on presiding over the trial is up to Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).
“Leaders have been negotiating all process issues about the trial, and all along we have deferred to them for any announcements about this and all other process matters,” the aide said.
Republican critics say this creates a conflict of interest because Leahy voted in February to convict Trump on two articles of impeachment.
The Democrats announced Trump’s impeachment trial will begin on February 8.
There is also talk that Republican senators may choose a secret ballot so their voting base will not know how each member voted.
If they do that the party is over. It’s already floundering after House leaders Kevin McCarthy and Liz Cheney blamed President Trump for the violence in the US Capitol on January 6th.
The Democrats are also floating barring Donald Trump from ever running for office.
Can Trump’s legal team dump the mother lode of election fraud evidence during the ‘trial’? Praying for the Divine boomerang effect upon them All.
> The Senate cannot impeach a private citizen.
He has *already* been impeached. This is basically equivalent to being charged with a crime. The case now goes to the Senate to determine whether he’ll be convicted.
They have to make sure there is no voter fraud evidence allowed.
He got a visit. FBI?
When is Trump’s lawyer going to speak up about this sham of an impeachment? At least it’s not Rudy holding court this time.
Why is Harris not presiding?
He’s a coward.
If he doesn’t preside, the impeachment is unconstitutional on its face.
Roberts is not involved in the Senate portion of this. The Constitution is very clear, "When the President of the United States is tried, the Chief Justice shall preside..."
Since Donald Trump is no longer president, the CJ will not be presiding.
“That’s because Roberts knows it’s unconstitutional.
The Senate cannot impeach a private citizen.”
Exactly! Additionally there are other vote fraud cases coming before the SC. It would be a conflict of interest for this guy to preside over a bogus trial and still be expected to be fair in the future vote fraud cases. To me this is a reasonable belief.
Now for the delusional fantasy: It could also be because they might favorably rule on one of the future vote fraud cases and would look pretty stupid to having anything to do with impeaching a private citizen former president.
The Constitution did.
The Chief Justice only presides over impeachments of the sitting President. The Chief Justice doesn't preside over impeachments of cabinet officers or federal judges.
Since President Trump is no longer the sitting President, the Chief Justice has no role.
I know the Consitution is meaningless to our Congress, but here's the text regarding impeachment of the President:
The Senate shall have the sole Power to try all Impeachments. When sitting for that Purpose, they shall be on Oath or Affirmation. When the President of the United States is tried, the Chief Justice shall preside: And no Person shall be convicted without the Concurrence of two thirds of the Members present.
I must be mistaken but I thought the Constitution required the trail judge to be the Chief Justice?
If the Chief Justice doesn’t preside, then it’s nothing more than a kangaroo court.
BECAUSE THIS IS NOT A REAL IMPEACHMENT
Let them have their fun... they look like idiots.
The Constitution doesn’t allow for that. Only the Chief Justice shall preside.
I’m glad it’s not Rudy too.
Trump needs someone with John Eastman’s intellect and knowledge of the Constitution representing him.
Since when did the Constitution stop NeverTrumpers from doing anything unConstitutional?
Starting to sound like the Rinos have joined the Dems.
Do they really want a CW2.
Trump as of Jan 20 2021 is now a private citizen again.
ONLY a President, Vice President or civil Officers of the United States.
That is it.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.