He is not to sit there as a ventriloquist's dummy. He is to PRESIDE as all judges do with the power, among others, to dismiss charges against a defendant.
ML/NJ
“He is to PRESIDE as all judges do with the power, among others, to dismiss charges against a defendant.”
His presidntial power is limited to ruling on the rules provided to him by the Senate.
That is ALL.
The idea a Chief Justice could dismiss impeachment charges is ludicrous. That has never been an interpretation, by anyone.