Posted on 12/19/2019 9:57:05 AM PST by Mariner
Mitch McConnell on Thursday threatened to cancel Donald Trump's impeachment trial in the Senate if 'scared' Nancy Pelosi doesn't send over the formal articles of impeachment against the president.
The speaker and the Senate Republican leader went to war over the next steps in the impeachment process as Pelosi slammed McConnell as a 'rogue leader' - and he blasted her articles as 'slapdash' and 'unfair.'
The dispute exploded into the open the morning after Democrats voted to impeach Trump, with the president bragging he was going to win the whole thing by 'default.'
'If the Do Nothing Democrats decide, in their great wisdom, not to show up, they would lose by Default!,' Trump argued on Twitter of his upcoming Senate trial, which is now in doubt.
Pelosi has to 'transmit' the articles of impeachment and appoint 'managers' to prosecute the president - but offered no timeline on when she would do that, saying she wanted to see the Senate's plan for a 'fair trial,' effectively holding the articles over McConnell and Trump's heads.
McConnell, who previously said he wanted to hold the trial in January, responded: 'It's beyond me how the Speaker and Democratic Leader in the Senate think withholding the articles of impeachment and not sending them over gives them leverage.
'Frankly, I'm not anxious to have the trial. If she thinks her case is so weak she doesn't want to send it over, throw me into that briar patch.'
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
Wasn't that Biggs in the original Star Wars?
Even in an impeachment, the President is supposed to have his chance to defend himself. That’s a constitutional right, as is the right to a speedy trial.
Let me assure you that there isn't a single senator that needs any outsider's encouragement/support about their constitutional status and role. To the contrary, these guys & gals in attitude and demeanor are the very definition of 'big swinging dicks'. So much so that the more frequent admonishment is one that attempts to remind them of their duty and humility.
So, all that being said, I agree, the Senate will never, ever allow the cadet House to dictate their rules, procedures & scheduling. Since the constitution is largely vacant on any real detailed aspect of impeachment, it's really left to each chamber to make it up as they go. And as the House really pushed the outer boundaries of what is thought feasible/acceptable, there's no reason the Senate cannot undertake the same posture.
Using that standard, there are many and varied ways the Senate can both protect their prerogative, as well as send a message to the House (and country) as to who they are dealing with. IOW, Mitch ain't anyone's bitch.
nothing like blasting some s(womp) rats in the canyon back home.....
Yep, and when the House ignores a SCOTUS injunction, prosecute the House leaders for treason.
If your rationale is correct, McConnell is toast, as is the GOP in 2020. He’s not stupid enough to be part of any game like that, not with the support Trump has amongst conservatives. And he must know that if you give Nutsy an inch, she’ll immediately try to take a yard. McConnell is too egotistical to allow the Senate to be dictated to by the HOR, no matter how much he may or may not like Trump.
Beggars Canyon...
“#4 Dismiss before any trial on the basis that the impeachment does not meet Constitutional requirements. That’s what I took out of McConnell’s speech.”
indeed. though such motions of dismissal are usually heard at the very beginning of a trial and at the end of the House “prosecution” and at the end of a trial, which is the way i understand those motions were presented at the Clinton impeachment trial
Mitch should announce a trial start date, get the chief justice locked in and tell nancy to provide names of managers by Jan 1. And have aMerry Christmas.
Agree. They aren’t gods.
“This thread is not about a criminal trial so the 6th doesn’t apply.”
But a criminal trail under our system has useful guidelines and analogues. Due process, right to confront accuser, etc.
Speedy trial meant in part that defendant did not languish in jail until government decided to pursue trial and guilt or innocence. Here President and country do not need question of removal from office hanging over everything for months.
agreed!
Regarding the charge of Obstruction of Congress, since when does Congress control the executive branch? I think the Botox has rotted Nutsy’s brain if she thinks the SC will go along with this argument. Now I’m back to the RBG death watch. I can’t wait to see libs’ heads explode when he nominates the next SC judge!
Sounds plausible...and fits McCain to a T as well. And look what happened there. He wanted to be a maverick to the end, and I could see Mittens doing the same thing. “Say my name, bitch!”
Yes, and the GOP should be making that argument.
This Democratic House is out of control. First they cook up some lame "obstruction of Congress" article of impeachment because PDJT took executive privileged on some of the subpoenaed articles that the do nothing Democrats wanted. This is not obstruction, it is constitutional and has been supported by the Supreme Court that the President has right to hold back certain information.
Now they are trying to tell the Senate how the trial is going to play out or they will not share their lil game with the Senate.
What bunch of butt hurt metro sexual commies that need to be boogalooed
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.