apparently henry hyde presented the articles on the same day (a saturday) to the senate in 1998. in 1868 it apparently happened over a 2 day period.
(so much for precedents...)
Not sure who did it, I think it was all or some of the named managers, following the authority and directions provided by the managers resolution. Hyde was a manager
Messages from the House received subsequent to sine die adjournment - Jan 6, 1999
... the Secretary of the Senate, on December 19, 1998, subsequent to the sine die adjournment of the Senate, received a message from the House of Representatives ...
-- in 1868 it apparently happened over a 2 day period. --
I read the relevant parts of Jefferson's Manual and Various House precedents (Deschler, Cannon, Hinds), and what the House is doing is truly unprecedented.
Are you under arrest if the cop says "you're under arrest," but then does not take control of your liberty? IOW, you are "under arrest" and "free to go" at the same time. It's nonsense.
One bright day in the middle of the night, two dead boys got up to fight.
Back to back they faced each other, drew their swords and shot each other.
My inclination is to not try to "out clever" the miscreant house. At least not yet.
The Senate can certainly express its sense, it can conduct hearings on the same underlying phone call and facts, call the same witnesses (into committee) the house did.
The calculus is what path plays best politically, mindful that the press is 100% arguing the DEM side of the case, all the time. Give it oxygen, or starve it?
The same sort of creative process going on in so many venues, FR included, about how the Senate might force the issue, faced with a House that is procedurally derelict on a matter that has interbranch ramifications.
I totally agree with you that POTUS can plead to the senate. That is the correct venue, not SCOTUS. I'm sure there is substantial precedent for communications from the Executive. Maybe Trump can use the constitutional power of ordering Congress into session, and give them his impeachment as the subject matter. I'm ignorant of instances when this particular constitutional power was ever exercised.