On Tuesday, we begin the Senate Impeachment Trial of Donald J. Trump. Moscow Mitch wants a short trial and will hold a lot of the proceeding out of the public’s view. His plan also calls for time limits on arguments.
McConnell needs at least 51 of the 53 Senate Republicans to support his rules if he wants them to pass. Any Senator can attempt to change the rules by offering an amendment before the vote to approve the measure. Those amendments also need 51 votes, meaning all 47 Democrats need to recruit four Republicans if they hope to change any element of McConnell’s plan.
NPR:
The Democratic members of the Senate will introduce amendments to McConnell’s plan with each side having an hour to debate them.
The McConnell resolution allows the House impeachment managers and president’s lawyers to present their opening arguments beginning Wednesday at 1 p.m., and gives them 24 hours each over two days to make their case.
Because Senators cannot speak during the trial, they will have “16 hours to ask questions in the chamber, followed by two hours of arguments each by the House impeachment managers and president’s lawyers. This would be followed by deliberation on a question on whether to subpoena witnesses or documents. It would also allow an option for a member to bring up a motion to dismiss the case outright.”
Read Moscow Mitch’s Resolution below and please join us for a Live Discussion on Tuesday for Day One: The Impeachment Trial of Donald J. Trump.