I understand it is good practice to ‘officially’ not recognize actions from the other congressional chamber until it is so ‘officially’ informed.
But also in law and justice there are principles such as the statutes of limitations and the right to a speedy trial. For most crimes the state can’t indict someone and then wait years before starting the trial.
Taking that principle to impeachment also makes sense, especially given the gravity of the charge (even though in this instance the charge itself is nonsensical, in theory this is the most severe charge Congress can impose on a POTUS). The Senate doesn’t have to allow a ‘rolling impeachment process’. They can insist that they won’t recognize an impeachment that isn’t processed within some reasonable time frame following the vote in the House because that is the right and reasonable and legally consistent thing to do - especially given the consequences.
Congress can remove a POTUS for specific and grave reasons. Impeachment by definition means it requires urgent consideration for the sake of the Republic. The House Democrats have made a mockery of it and there is no reason for the Senate to tolerate their playing with fire. Make them pay a political price, posthaste.
There is an inherent statute of limitiations in impeachment of a president. His term of office.
Now, I do agree that the general principle of credible government requires expediency, as well as accuracy and fairness. It's up to the two branches of Congress to navigate that, and right now they are proving they are idiots.
Of course, once the Senate receives the impeachment, it can judge it on matters such as timeliness and House procedure.
However, until receives it, it doesn’t exist for them.
And that’s good. We don’t need them making trouble for each other (which is precisely the destructive thing Nancy is doing).
The DEMs are using the House to call the senate corrupt, and the GOP is using the senate to ridicule the House and it's stupid impeachment case.
The public is watching, sort of.
Had just read this before posting #105.
You and I are on the same page as far as principles and rights such as a right to a speedy trial.
In normal order, the Senate would wait for the House to respectfully present the articles. Pelosi’s mistake was to state in public she would withhold presentment indefinitely. That’s a violation of principles of jurisprudence.