“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.
Says who? The Senate. What else would you expect the Senate to say? The model the Framers described is judge and jury. Juries don't make up the rules.
ML/NJ