Posted on 01/25/2021 8:08:07 PM PST by Helicondelta
Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts will not preside over former President Trump’s Senate impeachment trial, which is scheduled to begin in earnest on Feb. 8.
Instead, Senate President Pro Tempore Patrick Leahy (Vt.), the most senior member of the Senate Democratic Conference, will preside over the trial.
Leahy on Monday confirmed he would wield the gavel and promised to administer “impartial justice.”
Republicans say Roberts’s absence undermines the legitimacy of the trial.
“The Constitution requires that the chief justice preside over the impeachment trial of a president but that’s not what we’re doing. To me that’s indicative of the fact that we’re in uncharted waters,” said Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), a member of the Judiciary Committee.
“I just think it looks very petty and vindictive and I understand there are a lot of people who are mad but the process itself already looks like a railroad job,” he added.
Cornyn said having a Democrat preside over the trial “really undermines the legitimacy.”
Other GOP senators echoed that criticism.
“If the chief justice doesn’t preside, I think it’s an illegitimate hearing and really goes to show that it’s not really constitutional to impeach someone who’s not president,” said Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.).
Leahy on Monday pushed back on the Republican criticism.
“I have presided over hundreds of hours in my time in the Senate. I don’t think anybody has ever suggested I was anything but impartial in those hundreds of hours,” he said.
(Excerpt) Read more at thehill.com ...
Ah, secrets “Leaky” Leahy to the rescue. Corrupt as hell and proud of it. Hope the old bastard croaks during his opening statement.
This guy is a security risk and backstabber par excellence. Just the guy to do the dirty work of a fake impeachment for the Democrats in Congress.
In the old days his ass would still be sitting in jail for leaking security issue information.
If you don’t believe me, look up his scandal and coverup on the internet.
Yep, I forgot Sasse.
I can see Lee, Grassley and even Cotton voting to convict if it is a private vote. Cornyn is a potential weasel too.
It’s the newest version of the American communist party’s donkey show, a political circus for all to see, and there is nobody involved you would take home to mother.
Article 1, Section 3: 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.
Presiding officer for the impeachment of a judge, cabinet member or other official is not specified, but for a president, it is made mandatory that the presiding officer is the Chief Justice. Roberts can resign if he feels so strongly about doing his job, but the Constitution doesn't contain a "I don't want to" clause.
If I remember right the Chief Justce presides only over the proceedings and only rules on process. If Leahy takes that role there are only 49 dems and 50 Republicans.
What happens then?
As far as can see, their impeachment looks like a bill of attainder, walks like a bill of attainder, and quacks like a bill of attainder, so I must conclude it IS a Bill of attainder!!! It’s unconstitutional on its stupid face. It’s aimed at U.S. private citizen Donald Trump, who holds no office, and therefore cannot therefore be impeached, or suffer the direct legislative attention of either house of the legislature without them falling afoul of Article 1, Section 9, Pnaragraph 3, “No Bill of Attainder or ex post facto Law shall be passed.”
They are attempting to create legislation that negatively impacts only one specific person because they don’t like the political power he has and may wield in the future. That’s illegal... on its face.
Leahy is a Senator, not a Justice. This is not a real trial and a “conviction” from this show trial means nothing.
Patrick Leahy another scramble up brain at 81, like Nancy, and DIFI, and crazy Maxine...the Democrat Party is full of them...
and since Roberts steps aside, why is not the next in line at the SC asked to step up? this entire hoax needs sent to the Supreme Court and we will hear what bought and paid for Roberts thinks then...
time for this stupidity to end...and time to destroy these fraud, crooked voting machines to be shut down...
I was talking to someone last night about the idea of Roberts
resigning.
We’re stuck with him. Imagine giving Biden the slot for a
nomination.
I know Roberts is bad, but imagine who Jao would nominate.
Good grief.
Kameltoe will step in.
“Senate is a lot like Free Republic. No real core convictions except for globalism and cheap “
Wow. Most Freepers have strong core convictions and certainly not globalists. That may have been true before Trump became became president, but Trump changed everything.
As I thought. You are just playing a shtick.
You don’t believe anything that you are spewing here.
This is the most stupid and insane time in American history thanks to Mitch and Biden and Roberts and Pelosi. Why not have Daffy, Bugs, Twitty and Elmer Fudd impeach Trump? These people are paid huge money — over a $1000 a day — for something Rodeo clowns would do for a bottle of whiskey.
Where is the American people outrage? People are scared and afraid to do anything. They don’t want to lose what they got to go after insanely powerful people. The country is not worth their discomfort, their loss of property, threats on life and being dragged through the corrupt courts.
So make it into a funny hahaha moment. Make it into Benny Hill. But nobody is going to stop the insanity. And it will continue — as one Freeper said, “lets impeach people who are running against you so they will never have office,” lets impeach dead presidents. Why stop there? Lets impeach the Simpsons, lets impeach Ozzy and Harriet. Let’s send “Let’s impeach” Christmas cards.
There was a time in Roman history where a horse was voted into the Senate. This is the same kind of nonsense and people are going along with it. The constitution is now meaningless. Rome also fell from being a strict, virtuous Republic into corruption and decadence. Really there is no constitution if this crap is allowed. It is a circus of well paid clowns — $1000 AN HOUR CLOWNS — and it’s all a joke on the people of the country.
Durham is wiping his ass with the Durham report and these clowns are wiping their ass with the constitution. Are we are suppose to think it’s funny — see orange man impeached by $1000 dollar an hour clowns while Hunter is snorting coke and looking for Chinese hookers as part of his advisory role to the president. I’m living through insane times.
I haven’t seen the rules yet. If the vote is secret then I am getting 10 R’s to convict. Still short but it is early. IMO the RINO’s will not be able to contain themselves and the thought of banning Trump from running again is to tempting. This my opinion.
I see a few flecks of nationalism and pro worker positioning, but not that much....
Collins, and Murkowski didn’t vote to convict last time and the calculation for them is the same now.
If McConnell votes to convict he might as well announce his retirement.
Not even the heavily leaning libard betters there think the the odds are better than 10% of of 67+ votes prevailing.
central_va
>>>>I can see Lee, Grassley and even Cotton voting to convict if it is a private vote. Cornyn is a potential weasel too.<<<<
Think you can remove the ‘potential’, safely!!
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.