Posted on 09/30/2019 1:45:11 PM PDT by Olog-hai
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Monday that if the House impeaches President Trump he will “have no choice” but to hold a trial in the Senate and a vote on removing the president from office.
His comments in an interview with CNBC confirm the position he took in an interview with NPR in March, and the conclusion of a Senate staff memo that was obtained by HuffPost.
“Under the Senate rules we’re required to take it up if the House does go down that path, and we’ll follow the Senate rules,” McConnell said Monday. “It’s a Senate rule related to impeachment that would take 67 votes to change, so I would have no choice but to take it up. How long you’re on it is a whole different matter, but I would have no choice but to take it up based on a Senate rule on impeachment.” […]
The Constitution gives the Senate the power to try the president if he is impeached by the House, but it does not set a timetable for the process. …
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
This is insane.
McConnell needs to get his act together.
Another “non-story” story. He’s bound by procedure. My understanding is that they can straight up vote down an impeachment trial with a 50% majority procedural vote to not accept the trial referral.
Thanks Mitch. You idiot.
I don’t remember a Trial for slick willies impeachment, in fact the Entire Senate REFUSED to look at any of the evidence.
This is insane.
Indeed,
The last caller on Rush’s show today said that this would tie up the Senate in the event of a SCOTUS vacancy/nominee, leaving no opportunity for the Senate to take up the nomination.
Moreover, holding a trial would basically suspend any other action in approving other judiciary nominations.
Kinda more idiotic to look to a politician for liberty and justice.
Not true...as I have heard it...and he has many ways to deal with an imperfect / odd ball impeachment referral too...as more likely he will receive from the *sshats now in charge of congress today!! They daily make up the rules as the clock ticks!
NeverTrumpers live in a parallel universe.
There was a trial. Lindsay Graham was in the house at the time and was one of the lead people who presented the house’s evidence. Rehnquist resided over it all.
They remove Trump, all bets are off.
The fact he is saying he “has no choice” exposes him as a Liar.
If the House impeaches the Senate has to take it up as required by the Constitution.
But, consider that in the Clinton impeachment the Senate never really conducted a trial. Staff took depositions that were given to the Senators. Basically, all that happened on the floor were attorney arguments and the vote.
Plus, McConnell is laying down a marker to the Dems. Be very careful what you ask for because I will control the proceedings in the Senate, not Schitt and Nadless. It will not play out well for the Democrats.
he may be trying to out-scare Nancy Pelousy
but i bet she will go ahead and send impeachemnt to him anyway
at THAT time, he can just take it up whenever he wishes...
that is, he can leave it on the bottom of his inbox until, say, 2024
The Radical Leftists plan to overwhelm the system.
He has no choice, he’s been blackmailed.
The idea that the Senate could decline to hold an impeachment trial is likely on sound Constitutional footing.
But politically it is ludicrous.
99 of 100 Senators would vote yes to have a trial if the House impeached, and the lone hold-out would likely abstain.
Please cite the specific phrase from the language in the Constitution that says the Senate is required to conduct an Impeachment trial and accept the House Impeachment referral and Articles of Impeachment. I am not finding it in my copy.
Thanks in advance.
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.