WASHINGTON, DC — House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff (D-CA) argued on Tuesday that a refusal by the Senate to agree to Democrats’ demand to allow new witnesses and evidence in the impeachment trial without a vote would deem President Donald Trump guilty regardless of the verdict.
In other words, if the Republican-led Senate does not carry out the impeachment trial the way the Democrats want it to, Trump will be considered guilty even if the upper chamber acquits him. A guilty verdict in the Senate would remove Trump from office.
Schiff told reporters:
If the Senate and the senate leadership … will not allow the calling of witnesses or the presentation of documents, If [Senate Majority Leader Mitch] McConnell makes this the first impeachment trial in history without witnesses or documents, it will not prove the president innocent. It will merely prove the Senate guilty of working with the president to obstruct the truth from coming out, so I do think that by structuring the trial this way, it furthers our case that what’s going on here really is a cover-up of evidence to the American people.
White House reporter talks about Trump banning MS Now, Politico, and CNN
Why Trump zeroed in on Greenland, the world’s largest island, mostly covered in ice — in 3 charts
Trump says new arch will also deploy drones, position snipers and store ammo
You Could See Drones Buzzing All Over the Country: Trump Admin Expands Drone Operations
‘I’m Not Kidding’: FBI Agent Wanted to Charge Elon Musk for Asking Federal Workers What They Did That Week
Ukraine launches over 1,000 drones at Russia on final day of Duma elections
Police officer, woman shot near Notre Dame after football tailgates
El-Sayed’s Senate bid raises new concerns over a powerful privilege that comes with the job
Trump says Triumphal Arch will be converted into ‘top-grade’ military complex
ICE-led Florida operation nets 500 — including illegal aliens accused of murder, child abuse, cartel ties
Several Were Illegal Aliens: DOJ Announces 16 Culprits Caught Illegally Voting in Federal Elections
WATCH: Exclusive look at blue-collar workforce fueling America’s AI boom
DSA Chapter Leader Resigns, Warns ‘Frightening’ and ‘Extreme’ Radicals Are Running the Show
WATCH: AI safety scare sparks Cap Hill fight over guardrails: ‘China’s going to eat our lunch’
‘Not a slam dunk’: Trump’s 2028 mail-vote push hinges on one big legal question
While McConnell says his newly unveiled resolution outlining the rules that will govern the Senate trial makes the process fair, Schiff argues otherwise, saying the guidelines “make it impossible to hear a fair trial.”
The Senate, nevertheless, is expected to approve the resolution.
Speaking from the Senate’s floor on Tuesday, McConnell noted that the resolution that lays out the rules for how Senators will carry out the impeachment trial allows for a vote on whether both parties can introduce new evidence and witnesses.
McConnell made it clear that he will not pre-commit to allowing new evidence before hearing the Democrats’ arguments for convicting Trump. Moreover, he acknowledged that no one pushed the House’s hand to rush the impeachment inquiry, noting that they could have waited for more evidence if they thought it necessary.
White House reporter talks about Trump banning MS Now, Politico, and CNN
Why Trump zeroed in on Greenland, the world’s largest island, mostly covered in ice — in 3 charts
Trump says new arch will also deploy drones, position snipers and store ammo
You Could See Drones Buzzing All Over the Country: Trump Admin Expands Drone Operations
‘I’m Not Kidding’: FBI Agent Wanted to Charge Elon Musk for Asking Federal Workers What They Did That Week
Ukraine launches over 1,000 drones at Russia on final day of Duma elections
Police officer, woman shot near Notre Dame after football tailgates
El-Sayed’s Senate bid raises new concerns over a powerful privilege that comes with the job
Trump says Triumphal Arch will be converted into ‘top-grade’ military complex
ICE-led Florida operation nets 500 — including illegal aliens accused of murder, child abuse, cartel ties
Several Were Illegal Aliens: DOJ Announces 16 Culprits Caught Illegally Voting in Federal Elections
WATCH: Exclusive look at blue-collar workforce fueling America’s AI boom
DSA Chapter Leader Resigns, Warns ‘Frightening’ and ‘Extreme’ Radicals Are Running the Show
WATCH: AI safety scare sparks Cap Hill fight over guardrails: ‘China’s going to eat our lunch’
‘Not a slam dunk’: Trump’s 2028 mail-vote push hinges on one big legal question
McConnell stressed that the GOP-led Senate would not do the Democrat-controlled House’s investigation.
Key congressmen have recently threatened to call new witnesses to testify in the House if the Senate does take their deposition. They have also said they are continuing with their impeachment inquiry. Their comments came after House Democrats transmitted the two articles of impeachment — abuse of power and obstruction of Congress — to the Senate, a move that is supposed to end the House’s role in the impeachment process.
Story cited here.
