Posted on 01/23/2021 9:39:44 PM PST by conservative98
As Democrats plunge ahead with a post-term impeachment trial of President Donald Trump, a key question remains: Will Chief Justice Roberts take the case?
Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky says he won’t — making the exercise “a fake, partisan impeachment,” the lawmaker told Fox News’ Sean Hannity Friday.
Paul claimed Roberts has “privately said he’s not supposed to come unless it’s an impeachment of the president.”
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
d":^)
Where in the Constitution does it say the VP shall step in if the Chief Justice will not?
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My only source is a comment by Mark Levin to that effect. OTOH, the Constitution is quite clear on the duties of the Supreme Court Chief Justice in a Senate impeachment trial. He must preside over the trial when the the defendant is either the President or Vice President. At this point Trump is just a U.S. citizen.
So Justice Roberts can decline the job and there has to be a selection process. If it’s not Harris my gut feel it will just be some other Dem hack.
I assume this will all be resolved in a few days. Right now we are all speculating.
Typically a VP would be under the President being impeached. That would be a definite conflict of interest, and is not part of the design.
That vote would be open to challenges in court. Trump cannot appeal an impeachment, he can appeal any attempt to bar him from future office without having been found guilty and removed from office.
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