The impeachment trial of Donald Trump started on Tuesday with debate on trial procedures—namely, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's carefully planned cover-up. The debate has been conducted by the House impeachment managers and Trump’s defense team. On Tuesday McConnell released a slightly relaxed version of the dark-of-night procedure he initially proposed, but make no mistake that he and Trump’s team continue to press for a cover-up.
Republicans have voted down one Democratic amendment after another. The House impeachment managers have been eating the Trump defense team’s lunch on both substance and style, but Republican senators do. not. care.
Wednesday, Jan 22, 2020 · 2:14:32 AM +00:00
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Mark Sumner
Cipollone sets up jeffries with a “do nothing Dems” comment, which allows Jeffries to bomb the Senate chamber with the number of bills that have been sent to rot on McConnell’s desk.
Then Jeffries picks up on a “why are we here” comment from Sekulow and uses it to rip him a new one. By God that was satisfying.
Wednesday, Jan 22, 2020 · 2:19:42 AM +00:00
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Mark Sumner
Schiff up again. As the day goes on, the lopsidedness of the recitation of facts on the Democratic side, and the sluggish repetition of the same debunked talking points on the Republican side only seems to become more apparent.
And while Schiff seems fresh, Sekulow seems ready to topple off the stage.
Wednesday, Jan 22, 2020 · 2:21:33 AM +00:00
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Mark Sumner
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Wednesday, Jan 22, 2020 · 2:24:08 AM +00:00
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Mark Sumner
McConnell searches for what he’s supposed to say … remembers that he’s asking to table the motion on Mulvaney. And here we go again with a vote.
BTW, we may not be down to just witness subpoenas. Schumer may ask for documents from still more departments. They’ll have this whole case laid out before the night is over.
Wednesday, Jan 22, 2020 · 2:31:30 AM +00:00
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Mark Sumner
McConnell tries to get Schumer to stack his requests, asking them all at once. Schumer makes it clear that he’s willing to move some votes to tomorrow, but won’t submit them in a heap. Schumer suggests they could continue tomorrow (Yes, please).
McConnell forces a quorum vote.
Wednesday, Jan 22, 2020 · 2:33:47 AM +00:00
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Mark Sumner
Schumer is standing by with a request for documents from the Defense Department along with requests for more individual subpoenas. Justice Roberts has a case to hear in the morning. It will be interesting to see if McConnell agrees to continue tomorrow afternoon.
Wednesday, Jan 22, 2020 · 2:39:38 AM +00:00
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Mark Sumner
It would be great to listen in to Schumer and McConnell at this point. McConnell is clearly frustrated, because Trump’s team is unprepared, the Democrats in House and Senate are working together well, and this day has turned into free presentation time for the House impeachment team without taking even a scratch.
Wednesday, Jan 22, 2020 · 2:47:12 AM +00:00
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Mark Sumner
There is apparently no joy in McMudville. Schumer goes back to proposing amendments, starting with a request for subpoenas for documents held by the Defense Department.
And you can bet that by a total non-coincidence, a member of the House team is standing by to address this specific topic in detail. Get ready for quotes from Laura Cooper.
Wednesday, Jan 22, 2020 · 2:49:30 AM +00:00
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Mark Sumner
Mitch McConnell has the reputation of being the guy with a encyclopedic knowledge of obscure Senate rules that allow him to dominate this kind of thing. But so far in this hearing, Chuck Schumer has beaten him like a drum. A sad, wrinkly drum.