Posted on 12/19/2019 1:50:58 PM PST by SeekAndFind
Some House Democrats are pushing Speaker Pelosi to withhold the articles of impeachment that are expected to be approved by the House Wednesday, an idea that has been championed by Harvard Law School Professor Laurence Tribe.
The notion of impeaching Trump but holding the articles in the House, which could delay a trial in the Senate for months, has gained traction among some of the political left as a way of potentially forcing Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., to conduct a trial on more favorable terms for Democrats. And if no agreement is reached, some have argued, the trial could be delayed indefinitely, denying Trump an expected acquittal.
The gambit has gained some traction inside the left wing of the House Democratic Caucus this week. Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore., said Wednesday, as his colleagues debated the impeachment articles on the House floor, that he has spoken to three dozen Democratic lawmakers who had expressed some level of enthusiasm for the idea of "rounding out the record and spending the time to do this right."
"At a minimum, there ought to be an agreement about access to witnesses, rules of the game, timing," Blumenauer said of a Senate trial.
Another Democrat, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations, said there is "serious concern about whether there will be a fair trial on the Senate side" and acknowledged active talks about withholding the articles.
The notion has been most prominently advocated by Tribe, a Harvard Law School professor who is a harsh Trump critic and has advised the House Judiciary Committee on the impeachment process.
In a Washington Post op-ed, he wrote that “the public has a right to observe a meaningful trial rather than simply learn that the result is a verdict of not guilty.”
(Excerpt) Read more at bostonglobe.com ...
Of course. The Senate Republicans basically prevented House Republicans from presenting their case against Clinton.
Thee current quislings of the RNC can probably be cowed into a show trial against Trump given enough time.
The Senate should just do nothing until the house does its part. NOTHING.
The House has impeached (voted and noted as passed). It is the Senate’s role to try according to the constitution. If the paperwork is late for whatever reason, does not preclude the next step from happening, with or without the House’s cooperation. If the house was not ready, they should not have voted. That ended their role.
DK
Democrats being their Devious Scumbag selves again. Are they going to burn in Hell or what?
Pelosi can hold them...between her knees.
They’re deluded enough to think they can hold them til the democrats take the Senate so they can remove him.
Anyone up for a constitutional amendment to redefine and limit the basis for impeachment?
of course the GOP wasn’t crafty enough to think so extraconstitutionally
If McConnell goes for a trial that will end me with any hopes for the Republican Senators and most of the Party. Hope he does not make any agreement with their demands. McConnell and the Republicans establish what the Senate will do, not the communists Democrats.
Here IMO is what could happen.
If the skank Pelousy does NOT send the articles over to the Senate, the Senate can simply ignore them and do nothing, or hold court and dismiss all past, present and future articles of such from THIS house of reps.
Or, if the skank doesnt send them and they stay till after the next election, the NEW House can bring those article back up and hold trials of retribution against those who brought this sedition and charge them as indicated.
You think I am deluded? Well...they, (democRATS)didnt follow any rules and rolled right over the constitution, violating several article of the constitution, so why would any NEW house follow any rules?
Dems don’t believe in “a fair and speedy trial.” They want to flood the jury pool with peers of their own choosing.
Clinton had dirt on all the senators as well. They knew to hold the vote quickly so as to be exposed.
Nuts!!!
After listening to Mitch this morning, it seems to me that the House is trying to set itself up, and by default the Speaker of the House, as a separate branch of government, above the Constitution. If they are successful, they can impeach any future president at will, and force the Senate to a standstill by imposing their rules on them.
.... The Coup is deepening ....
Including dismissal without a trial.
don’t pay them until their work is completed...
The house needs to send the articles to the Senate in order for this be considered a legitimate Impeachment. If they never send it, then it becomes nothing but a House Resolution. Basically it turns into to a censure vote and nothing more. Trump will not be able to be labeled as the 3rd President in history to be impeached!
RE: According to the constitution, the Senate may make whatever rules they like.
Article I, Section 3, Clauses 6 and 7 provide:
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.
Judgment in Cases of Impeachment shall not extend further than to removal from Office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any Office of honor, Trust or Profit under the United States; but the Party convicted shall nevertheless be liable and subject to Indictment, Trial, Judgment and Punishment, according to Law.
Mitch should announce a start date for the trail and give Pelousy 12 days to name the managers.
That’s what I thought should be done from the outset.
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.