Rubio doubles down on criticism of Trump impeachment trial: ‘It’s not even constitutional’

Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., doubled down Tuesday on statements he made over the weekend calling next month's impeachment trial of former President Trump "stupid".

Senate’s senior Democrat falls ill; Leahy slated to preside over impeachment

The Senate's most senior Democrat went to the hospital Tuesday evening after falling ill, his office said. 

Sen. Patrick Leahy is presiding over the looming impeachment trial of President Trump, and had sworn in fellow senators as jurors earlier Tuesday.

Hours later, his office said, the 80-year-old began to feel ...

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Leahy back at home after brief hospitalization

Vermont Sen. Patrick Leahy is back home after a short hospital visit because he felt unwell on Tuesday night, according to his spokesperson.

“The Capitol Physician suggested that Senator Leahy go to George Washington University Hospital this evening for observation, out of an abundance of caution,” spokesperson David Carle said in a statement. “After getting test results back, and after a thorough examination, Senator Leahy now is home. He looks forward to getting back to work.“

Carle didn’t provide more details on the 80-year-old Democratic senator’s symptoms that briefly sent him to the hospital.

Leahy is supposed to preside over President Donald Trump’s second impeachment trial starting on Feb. 9 as president pro tempore of the Senate. The president pro tempore is third in line of succession to the presidency and Leahy has already held the position twice.

“The president pro tempore has historically presided over Senate impeachment trials of non-presidents,” he said in a statement earlier this week. Republicans have criticized Leahy's role in the upcoming trial since, as a senator, he's also a juror in the proceedings.

“I consider holding the office of the president pro tempore and the responsibilities that come with it to be one of the highest honors and most serious responsibilities of my career. When I preside over the impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump, I will not waver from my constitutional and sworn obligations to administer the trial with fairness, in accordance with the Constitution and the laws."

The Vermont Democrat, who has spent 46 years in the Senate, also just became chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee.

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