Thursday is the second day of questions from senators to the House impeachment managers and Donald Trump’s defense lawyers. Questions are submitted in writing to be read by Chief Justice John Roberts, with questions alternating between Republican and Democratic senators and answers generally limited to five minutes.
Thursday, Jan 30, 2020 · 11:07:54 PM +00:00
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Mark Sumner
Jason Crow gets another chance to talk about the difference between this hold and legitimate holds. Not sure there’s anything left to say here, but maybe they have more to say that Crow didn’t get to in his last, lengthy, step by step response.
Crow does get the chance to mention that multiple parties asked for the aid to be released, but no one got a reason why it wasn’t.
Looks like there are is something less than 4 hours remaining, by the way.
Thursday, Jan 30, 2020 · 11:14:08 PM +00:00
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Mark Sumner
Another question involving Cruz and Hawley, this time with Burr and Rubio joining the madness. Let’s here it…
“Hillary Clinton’s campaign hired a retired foreign spy...” This question actually asks if the Steele Dossier is an impeachable offense.
Hakeem Jeffries steps up to say it’s not applicable.
Heck, let’s say hell yes! Let’s impeach Hillary! She’s out of office? Okay, now we can do Trump.
Jeffries now taking the senators for the string of conspiracy theories. “It’s hard to keep count. This is the Senate. This is America’s greatest political club. This is the world’s greatest deliberative body. And all you offer us is conspiracy theories because you can’t face the facts in this case.”
Surely it will be Sekulow on the other side. And it is. Honestly, I ignored everything he said.
In case anyone needs a reminder: Hillary Clinton hired someone, who hired someone, who hired someone who was working for John McCain, who hired someone ... who was British. Lock her up!
Thursday, Jan 30, 2020 · 11:19:15 PM +00:00
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Mark Sumner
Philbin now talking about why a document that was demanded is classified, on a conversation between Pence and Zelensky, even though the conversation it records has been subject to public discussion in Jennifer Williams testimony.
Schiff suggests that those who haven’t had the opportunity, and can view classified documents, should read it. Pence has said he wanted to release it, and has made public claims about it, but it remains unreleased. Schiff, who has read the document, is absolutely disdainful here of the idea that this call needed to be classified.
What’s that phrase again? Read the transcript, senators!
Thursday, Jan 30, 2020 · 11:20:52 PM +00:00
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Mark Sumner
Alexander sends a question, but Cruz is a co-author, which certainly suggests that Lamar! is on team screw-up. And he is. The question is about the votes in Nixon and Clinton impeachments.
Nothing like using the Senate Impeachment trial for something you could answer from Wikipedia.
Thursday, Jan 30, 2020 · 11:25:18 PM +00:00
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Mark Sumner
Lofgren gives this blah question a much better and more detailed answer than it deserves, and does a nice job of pivoting to the idea of getting Bolton in for testimony that can be taken at the same time as the Senate continues its regular business — as it was in the Clinton impeachment.
Thursday, Jan 30, 2020 · 11:28:59 PM +00:00
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Mark Sumner
Schumer directly addresses the “it would take too long” question, giving Schiff and company another chance to explain a plan for getting witnesses in for a week.
Schiff reports that the White House has said that the documents requested have already been collected, so it should take no time to get them over. Schiff acknowledges that it would mean limiting witnesses, suggests that Roberts could arbitrate disputes over witnesses, says that the House side has suggested four witnesses, but is open to negotiation. Schiff mentions that the Trump team has often talked about the need for “reasonable accommodation” and suggests that an agreement could be met.
Thursday, Jan 30, 2020 · 11:34:11 PM +00:00
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Mark Sumner
McConnell doesn’t feel that the question from Lamar! sufficiently beat up the Democrats, as was the design. So McConnell sends the same back to Philbin so they can get the numbers that they wanted.
And now this Googlable question has been asked twice.
Philbin is not taking some time to argue that Dershowitz didn’t say what Dershowitz actually said. However, he is not going to tell anyone what Dershowitz actually said. Except to say that Dershowitz said he didn’t mean what he said. Nope … not gonna.
It’s a shame that Dershowitz hasn’t gotten the chance to opine on Dershowitz. But they seem afraid to let him out of his box this evening.
Thursday, Jan 30, 2020 · 11:39:47 PM +00:00
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Mark Sumner
One more question, then it’s dinner time.
This one comes from Amy Klobuchar and Chris Coons, they ask if any of the witnesses the Trump team wants to call have first hand information about Trump’s actions.
The House managers are first. Schiff says he’s not a firsthand witness, and Biden has no knowledge on the subject. The whistleblower has also been explicit that they don’t have firsthand knowledge. But Mulvaney knows. Bolton knows. Why isn’t Trump’s team demanding first hand witnesses who can answer these questions?
Schiff: “Why don’t they want their own people in?”
Sekulow now up there admitting that there’s not a single damn person with knowledge of Trump’s actions that they want to talk to, Sekulow is making the case that John Roberts can’t be part of a fair process. That’s nice.
Dinner time, people. About … three hours remaining.
Thursday, Jan 30, 2020 · 11:42:30 PM +00:00
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Mark Sumner
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