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.
Oil-Rich California Relies on Fuel Imported from the Bahamas as Gas Prices Surge
Trump says ‘this is a Democrat shutdown’ as he touts low inflation, falling murder rate
Teen killed after protecting friends in ‘senseless’ shootout as locals raise alarm over rising crime in Bronx
Trump withholds endorsement for Texas Senate GOP primary
Thune guarantees voter ID bill to hit the Senate despite Schumer, Dem opposition: ‘We will have a vote’
Swalwell’s ‘I should be working’ gym, pool videos resurface as Dem rival hammers his missed House votes
Anderson Cooper announces 60 Minutes departure amid CBS shake-ups
Oregon Could Vote to Ban Hunting and Fishing – Proposed Law Would Classify Both as Cruelty to Animals
Tom Emmer blasts Democrats’ double standard on SAVE Act: ‘They require photo IDs’ at their own DNC
GOP reaches key 50-vote threshold for Trump-backed voter ID bill as Senate fight looms
At least two dead after ‘targeted’ shooting at Rhode Island hockey game
Indiana school secretary charged after husband finds her with student, probe reveals affair with another: cops
China pledges aid to Ukraine as US officials warn Beijing is quietly fueling Russia’s war
ICE sweeps up convicted pedophiles, traffickers in massive holiday weekend sting: ‘Worst of the worst’
Former FBI analyst believes Guthrie suspect is amateur criminal, Savannah’s latest message tailored to him
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.
Oil-Rich California Relies on Fuel Imported from the Bahamas as Gas Prices Surge
Trump says ‘this is a Democrat shutdown’ as he touts low inflation, falling murder rate
Teen killed after protecting friends in ‘senseless’ shootout as locals raise alarm over rising crime in Bronx
Trump withholds endorsement for Texas Senate GOP primary
Thune guarantees voter ID bill to hit the Senate despite Schumer, Dem opposition: ‘We will have a vote’
Swalwell’s ‘I should be working’ gym, pool videos resurface as Dem rival hammers his missed House votes
Anderson Cooper announces 60 Minutes departure amid CBS shake-ups
Oregon Could Vote to Ban Hunting and Fishing – Proposed Law Would Classify Both as Cruelty to Animals
Tom Emmer blasts Democrats’ double standard on SAVE Act: ‘They require photo IDs’ at their own DNC
GOP reaches key 50-vote threshold for Trump-backed voter ID bill as Senate fight looms
At least two dead after ‘targeted’ shooting at Rhode Island hockey game
Indiana school secretary charged after husband finds her with student, probe reveals affair with another: cops
China pledges aid to Ukraine as US officials warn Beijing is quietly fueling Russia’s war
ICE sweeps up convicted pedophiles, traffickers in massive holiday weekend sting: ‘Worst of the worst’
Former FBI analyst believes Guthrie suspect is amateur criminal, Savannah’s latest message tailored to him
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.
