Posted on 01/28/2020 4:34:32 PM PST by Uncle Sham
The Constitution gives the power of impeachment solely to the House of Representatives. It means that only the House can do the discovery phase of gathering evidence and then putting together Articles of Impeachment to then present to the Senate for the Senate to judge. The Senate can ONLY judge that which the House has constructed and presented. Any witnesses can ONLY be from the witnesses who are included in the Articles presented by the House.
Asking the Senate to help the discovery phase by introducing new evidence at an impeachment trial is the same thing as asking a judge or jury to help the prosecution do it's job in the courtroom. It also would put the Senate in a position of being part of the evidence gathering phase of impeachment that our constitution clearly prohibits as this is only assigned to the House of Representatives. If the House wants new witness testimony, they have every opportunity to get it with the rules that are in place. They can call Bolton to testify IN THE HOUSE, then if they decide to incorporate his testimony into an Article of Impeachment, they are free to do so and then present THAT article of impeachment to the Senate.
In my opinion, if the Senate allows new testimony, Trump's legal team has grounds for getting the entire proceeding thrown out as being unconstitutional.
So what. The entire US Government is “unconstitutional.” The “Constitution” had been dead as a hammer for a long, long time.
They can call Bolton to testify IN THE HOUSE, then if they decide to incorporate his testimony into an Article of Impeachment
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The trouble is they will have him testify under controlled conditions. Repbulicans would likely be isolated and/or marginalized again.
What are you, some kind of trouble-maker?
Just shut up and get back in line - or we might just send you to a "camp" for an attitude adjustment....
Now, if you can point me to the last time either the House or Senate let a little thing like ignoring the Constitution stop them from doing whatever improves their poll numbers or makes them money I'll get excited about the possibility that the whole thing will be thrown out.
No offense, just thinking of recent history.
The “Constitution” had been dead as a hammer for a long, long time.
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As has any semblance of equitable justice. Nobody in DC is ever held accountable for anything.
Any bets on whether Robert’s would entertain a move by Trump’s defense to do that?
This is turning into a clown car crackup, at the intersection of the U. S. Constitution and 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
Any loyal citizen should be furious right about now.
Can John Roberts rule that new witnesses can’t be allowed?
I know we’re all talking how the Senate is going to vote on whether to allow John Bolton or others , but isn’t that really the job of a judge in a trial to decide? And John Roberts is the judge? Am I missing something?
Hey, how about calling your congressman with this news? That oughta do help.
Now how to get Roberts to go along with it?
If his testimony does not exist in any of the two Articles of impeachment being considered at this time, it cannot constitutionally be entered into the Senate phase.
Bingo! Excellent comment.
Have you considered that DJT wants Bolton to testify?
Trump’s legal team would rip him apart.
There are not enough votes for calling witnesses.
Why?
The past and present Senatorial presidential candidates MUST recuse themselves.
Now how to get Roberts to go along with it?
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He’s just a potted plant.
And that FACT alone should be enough to shut this mess down, proceed and get on with getting this stupidity over. If the damn rats don’t like it they can go back to the drawing board and do all their Tom Foolery again in the House. That is Constitutional and that is all there is to it.
I did. it was well received.
Great point !
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He could but he's not supposed to enter any rulings as to trial procedure. The senate is the judge, the jury, and the advocates in this trial. It can draw from whatever it wants to draw from.
Well I think we all knew from the get-go that Democrats would get new “witnesses” and new made up testimony at the Senate Trial.
But we went from a Bolton for Biden agreement to Bolton only. (Sigh)
We are handing over to the democrats every demand they make.
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