Category: chuck schumer

Schumer Discusses Making DC A State – We’ll Get ‘Big Bold Change…No Matter What’

Posted on by LifeZette

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) spoke out over the weekend to ominously say that Democrats will get “big, bold change” “no matter what” as he called on his party to tackle issues like “improving our democracy. Making D.C. a state, automatic voter registration.”

Schumer Speaks Out About Future 

Schumer said this during an interview with Reverend Al Sharpton on MSNBC on Saturday.

“Well, Rev., we have one goal: big, bold change in America,” Schumer said. “We would like the Republicans to join us in some of those things at least, and maybe they will. But we are going to get that change no matter what.”

“We cannot — there is such a demand, three huge issues we have to do: climate, huge issue facing the country, racial and economic inequality, which has gotten worse, not better, which demands change and justice in a big, bold way, and improving our democracy,” he added.

Related: Schumer Unloads On Republicans Refusing To Support Impeachment – Vows To Hold Trial

Schumer Doubles Down

“Making D.C. a state, automatic voter registration, getting rid of Citizens United, all the things embodied in H.R. 1, which the House passed and McConnell would block up, but we’re going to fight to pass it in the Senate,” Schumer continued.

“That’s why we’ve made it S 1. So, climate, racial inequality, economic inequality, and democracy, improving our democracy, letting people vote much more easily, dealing with D.C. and Puerto Rican statehood, dealing with bad money that flows in,” he said.

“The John Lewis Act, undoing the horrible decisions the court made, which defanged the Voting Rights Act, and that’s why Republicans have gotten away with taking people’s right away to vote for the last four years,” he added.

Related: Schumer Promises Quick Impeachment Trial, A Lot Of Witnesses Not Necessary

‘What About The Filibuster’ 

“What about the filibuster?” Sharpton asked.

“Well, as I’ve said, we will find a way to do big, bold change,” Schumer replied. “And our caucus will sit down and figure it out, but failure is not an option. We must create change.”

Democrats now have control of the presidency, the Senate, and the House. It remains to be seen what changes that they will bring about for our country in the next few years.

This piece was written by James Samson on February 1, 2021. It originally appeared in LifeZette and is used by permission.

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The post Schumer Discusses Making DC A State – We’ll Get ‘Big Bold Change…No Matter What’ appeared first on The Political Insider.

Schumer Unloads On Republicans Refusing To Support Impeachment – Vows To Hold Trial

Posted on by LifeZette

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (R-NY) came unglued on the Senate floor on Wednesday as he let loose on the 45 Republican senators who voted that an impeachment trial against former President Donald Trump in the Senate would be unconstitutional.

On Tuesday night, the Senate voted to dismiss a motion put forth by Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) that having an impeachment trial for a president who is no longer in office violates the constitution.

However, only five Republicans joined Democrats in voting to table the motion, making it incredibly unlikely that Schumer will be successful in impeaching Trump.

Schumer Attacks Republicans 

Schumer took to the Senate floor the next day to call the 45 Republicans who voted in favor of tabling an impeachment trial “deeply irresponsible.”

“Only five Republican senators were willing to take a principled stand against this reckless and ill-advised effort by members of this body who are eager to excuse President Trump’s campaign to overturn the election and apparently to excuse his incitement of the mob that every one of us experienced in this Capitol,” Schumer said, according to CBS News.

“I would simply say to all of my colleagues, make no mistake, there will be a trial, and the evidence against the former president will be presented in living color for the nation and every one of us to see once again,” he added.

Related: Schumer Promises Quick Impeachment Trial, A Lot Of Witnesses Not Necessary

The House already impeached Trump for a second time for allegedly inciting the Capitol riots earlier this month, and if the Senate does indeed impeach him, he won’t be able to run for office again.

“No one will be able to avert their gaze from what Mr. Trump said and did and the consequences of his actions,” Schumer said. “We will all watch what happened. We will listen to what happened. And then we will vote. We will pass judgment as our solemn duty under the Constitution demands.”

Other Democrats Have Second Thoughts

Others Democrats, however, are starting to realize that an impeachment trial may not be the best idea. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) has teamed up with Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) to pitch censure resolution against Trump to their colleagues.

“The vote on the Paul motion yesterday was completely clarifying that we’re not going to get near 67 [votes],” said Kaine, who was Hillary Clinton’s running mate in her failed presidential run against Trump in 2016.

“To do a trial knowing you’ll get 55 votes at the max seems to me to be not the right prioritization of our time,” he added. “Obviously we do a trial, maybe we can do it fast, but my top priority is COVID relief and getting the Biden cabinet approved.”

Related: GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene Makes Good On Promise To File Impeachment Against Biden

Collins pledged to vote in favor of censuring Trump “in lieu of” an impeachment trial.

“Senator Kaine and I have been working on a proposal for censure. It is still in process but I think yesterday’s vote on the Senate floor shows that it is extremely unlikely that President Trump would be convicted, and that indeed the five votes to even proceed to a trial is probably the high mark on what you’re going to see for Republican support,” Collins said.

“If the outcome of the trial is already obvious — which I believe yesterday’s vote shows clearly…then the question is, is there another way to express condemnation of the president’s activities with regard to the riot and the pressure that he put on state officials?” she added.

This piece was written by James Samson on January 28, 2021. It originally appeared in LifeZette and is used by permission.

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The post Schumer Unloads On Republicans Refusing To Support Impeachment – Vows To Hold Trial appeared first on The Political Insider.

Schumer Promises Quick Impeachment Trial, A Lot Of Witnesses Not Necessary

Posted on by Rusty Weiss

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer indicated President Trump’s impeachment trial would be “quick” adding no decision has been made on the need for witnesses.

Schumer (D-NY) made the comments during an interview with MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow.

“The trial will be done in a way that is fair but … relatively quickly,” he said.

Schumer added, “I don’t think there’s a need for a whole lot of witnesses,” insisting the trial will be “fair.”

The Hill reports that Schumer “added that no decision had been made on whether or not there would be witnesses,” but his call for a swift process indicates he “didn’t think many witnesses are needed.”

RELATED: Democrats Seeking To Root Out ‘White Supremacists’ From The Military

Chuck Schumer Promises Quick Impeachment Trial

President Trump’s first Senate impeachment trial took just 21 days. Bill Clinton’s impeachment trial lasted 36 days.

But Democrats have argued the second Trump impeachment would be quicker due to the riots he allegedly incited having played out in real-time in public.

Or, perhaps it indicates they have less proof of a high crime or misdemeanor than they did with the first minimal-evidence impeachment effort.

Schumer has indicated a desire to move quickly due to concerns that the impeachment trial would interfere with President Biden implementing his 100-day agenda.

“We have so much else to do,” he lamented.

RELATED: Democrat Tulsi Gabbard Slams Dems For ‘Domestic Terror’ Bill For Targeting ‘Half Of The Country’

Biden Says Dems Don’t Have Enough Votes

At the very moment the historic article of impeachment was being delivered to the Senate, President Biden indicated the trial would likely not lead to a conviction because Democrats simply don’t have the votes.

Biden, according to CNN, said he doesn’t believe 17 Republican senators – the number necessary to lead to a successful effort by Nancy Pelosi’s manager – will vote to convict Trump.

“The Senate has changed since I was there, but it hasn’t changed that much,” Biden said.

While some Republicans have indicated they might join the effort to convict, several others have said the move would be disastrous for the GOP.

Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) voiced his opinion that having GOP leadership move forward with Trump’s impeachment would be a “huge mistake” and would “destroy” the Republican Party.

Other senators warned Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) that he “could face backlash if he votes to convict Trump.”

Still, Biden said the trial “has to happen” and that there would be “a worse effect if it didn’t happen.”

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Pelosi Sending Impeachment Article to Senate Monday, GOP Senators Warn McConnell Against Vote To Convict

Posted on by Rusty Weiss

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi will send the article of impeachment against Donald Trump to the Senate on Monday where a “full trial” will take place.

This, according to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY).

Schumer stated that he had spoken with Pelosi about the article and that it “will be delivered to the Senate on Monday.”

“Make no mistake: There will be a full trial. There will be a fair trial,” he tweeted as if to convince himself of the impartiality that will greet the former President.

Schumer, speaking on the floor of the Senate, proceeded to make a rather unfortunate error in announcing the news.

“There will be a trial, and when that trial ends, senators will have to decide if they believe Donald John Trump incited the erection … insurrection against the United States.” he declared.

RELATED: Biden Press Secretary Says He’s Got ‘Bigger Issues’ After Being Caught Maskless On Federal Property

Articles Of Impeachment And Senate Trial To Kick Off Monday

Former President Donald Trump has reportedly hired a lawyer for the Senate impeachment trial by the name of Butch Bowers.

Reuters reports that Bowers was a recommendation of Senator Lindsey Graham.

“Bowers has represented former Republican governors in South Carolina and served in the U.S. Justice Department under Republican former President George W. Bush,” they write.

The Hill indicates only a handful of Republicans seem likely to go along with a vote to convict Trump, short of what they would need for success.

They write, “Only five or six Republican senators at the most seem likely to vote for impeachment, far fewer than the number needed.”

RELATED: Democrats Scramble To Save Face After National Guard ‘Banished’ To Parking Garage Following Biden Inauguration

McConnell Has Been Warned

Meanwhile, CNN is reporting that several GOP senators have expressed that Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) “could face backlash if he votes to convict Trump.”

“If he does, I don’t know if he can stay as leader,” one senior GOP senator allegedly told CNN.

Senator Ron Johnson, when asked if he could support McConnell if he voted to convict the former President replied, “No, no, no.”

Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) voiced his opinion that having GOP leadership move forward with Trump’s impeachment would be a “huge mistake” and would “destroy” the Republican Party.

McConnell has not publicly announced if he would vote to convict Trump, but his words leading up to the trial have indicated a disdain for the former President’s actions, if not his role in the party.

McConnell reportedly views the Democrats’ effort to impeach the president as a means to “help rid the Republican Party of Trump and his movement.”

A poll from Axios-Ipsos that came out last week shows Republican voters are siding with Trump over McConnell “big time.”

The results show a vast majority of Republicans do not hold Trump responsible for the Capitol riots, believe he has a right to challenge the election, and still support him, with supporters even sticking with him as their preferred nominee in 2024.

If McConnell and the Republicans vote to convict on the article of impeachment, the party will forever and irreparably be fractured.

The post Pelosi Sending Impeachment Article to Senate Monday, GOP Senators Warn McConnell Against Vote To Convict appeared first on The Political Insider.

Democrats Scramble to Save Face After National Guard ‘Banished’ To Parking Garage Following Biden Inauguration

Posted on by Rusty Weiss

Several lawmakers expressed outrage following a report that National Guard troops had been “banished” to a parking garage after serving to defend against potential threats at the inauguration of President Biden.

Politico reported Thursday night that U.S. Capitol Police officials had the Guard troops removed from the facilities “sending them outdoors or to nearby parking garages after two weeks pulling security duty” following the Capitol riots in early January.

The report notes that outdoor temperatures in the area fell into the 40s, while conditions inside the parking garage for one unit of 5,000 consisted of just one electrical outlet and one bathroom.

One Guardsman conveyed his feelings about the situation to Politico.

“Yesterday dozens of senators and congressmen walked down our lines taking photos, shaking our hands and thanking us for our service,” he said.

“Within 24 hours, they had no further use for us and banished us to the corner of a parking garage,” the Guardsman added. “We feel incredibly betrayed.”

RELATED: 12 National Guardsmen Removed From Biden Inauguration For Alleged Ties To Right-Wing Groups

National Guard Troops Banished to Garage Following Biden Inauguration

A CNN report shortly thereafter indicated the National Guard troops had been “banished” to the garage but were “allowed back into the Capitol Complex” following an outcry from lawmakers.

The initial move to force them into a garage reflected poorly on Democrats considering the troops were used to help defend the inauguration of one of their own party members.

Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), an Iraq war veteran, tweeted, “Just made a number of calls and have been informed Capitol Police have apologized to the Guardsmen and they will be allowed back into the complex tonight. I’ll keep checking to make sure they are.”

Her Senate colleague Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) also took to Twitter writing, “This is outrageous, shameful, and incredibly disrespectful to the men and women keeping the U.S. Capitol safe and secure. We need it fixed and we need answers on how it happened.”

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), who typically despises law and order, chimed in.

Even Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) gave out his office location and offered it to accommodate the National Guard troops, a service he normally reserves for Chinese spies – allegedly.

RELATED: Nancy Pelosi Suggests Trump Could Be Charged As Accessory To Murder For Capitol Riots

Props for a Photo-Op

The Democrat outrage was necessary because the optics of having the National Guard protect a Democrat president and then be summarily dismissed to a garage is outrageous.

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), upon hearing the reports, called out House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY).

“Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Schumer—why are American troops who are tasked with keeping security at the Capitol being forced to sleep in a parking lot?” he asked. “They deserve to be treated with respect, and we deserve answers.”

Rep. Madison Cawthorn (R-NC) brought the troops pizza and offered to let them sleep in his office as well.

“Our troops deserve better,” he tweeted.

There is no evidence that Pelosi, Schumer, or any other Democrat had any role in placing the National Guard troops in a parking garage. In fact, that would seem to fall on the shoulders of the Capitol police.

Still, it’s difficult to view the Guard’s treatment as further evidence that Democrats used them – either for a photo op for President Biden following overblown reports of a threat at the Capitol, or worse, simply as a means to prevent a pro-Trump rally from breaking out at his inauguration.

It wasn’t that long ago that the left ridiculed former President Trump for using National Guard troops to protect the southern border from actual threats to our nation, belittling them as props.

Now they’ve been used as props because a man so popular that he received 81 million votes in the presidential election had to be protected from the American people.

When their purpose had been served, our troops were quickly cast aside … until photos started leaking about what had happened.

The post Democrats Scramble to Save Face After National Guard ‘Banished’ To Parking Garage Following Biden Inauguration appeared first on The Political Insider.

Democrats Split On When To Send Impeachment To The Senate For Trial

Posted on by Becky Noble

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) has not given any definite indication on when the article of impeachment against President Trump, passed by the House on Wednesday, might make its way to the Senate for any possible trial.

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) is urging that the latest round of impeachment articles, accusing President Trump of “inciting and insurrection,” be sent to the upper chamber “as soon as possible.”

RELATED: If Republicans Put America First, They’ll Remove Liz Cheney, Not Donald Trump

Would The Senate Reconvene In Time For A Trial?

There is confusion in the Senate as well. Currently, the body is scheduled to reconvene on Jan. 19, the day before President-elect Joe Biden takes office.

There is only one day, a pro forma session, scheduled before the official reconvening on Jan. 19.

The Senate is not allowed to do any business on that day without unanimous consent.

A 2004 resolution gives Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer the power to reconvene the Senate without unanimous consent which would create an emergency session. 

McConnell has said that he would not invoke this resolution, but Schumer may put the pressure on to do it. 

As it stands now, unless McConnell calls a special session, the Senate would not receive any articles of impeachment before Jan. 19, and a trial would not begin before 1pm on either Jan. 20 or 21, making Donald Trump at that time the ex-president.

However, Chuck Schumer has stated, “But make no mistake, there will be an impeachment trial in the United States Senate.”

RELATED: House Democrats Wonder If Capitol Attack Was An ‘Inside Job’

Is Impeaching An Ex-President A Wise Use Of Senate Time?

This would put the United States Senate in a precarious situation. Should the trial move forward, the Senate at that point is committed to completing the process.

This puts other priorities, such as Biden administration nominees and COVID relief, on hold.

Biden has urged the Senate to do their “Constitutional responsibilities” while also attending to “other urgent business.” 

There is also some question as to whether or not an ex-president can be impeached once he is a private citizen.

The United States Constitution provides for the process of impeachment, but says nothing about the timing of when the trial can take place.

What Exactly Is The Urgency About?

On Wednesday, Pelosi called the president, “a clear and present danger” as she urged members of the House to support impeachment.

But there seems to be some confusion there as well.

House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-SC) said on Sunday that it may not be until after Biden’s first 100 days in office before the House would send the articles of impeachment to the Senate. 

RELATED: James Clyburn Admits House Democrats May Not Send Articles Of Impeachment To Senate Until After Biden’s First 100 Days In Office

But the urgency may be about more than a trial and conviction rather than how fast the articles of impeachment would reach the Senate.

According to reports from Vox, there is talk among Republicans that this second impeachment, and any subsequent trial and conviction, could bar Trump from ever running for office again.

The post Democrats Split On When To Send Impeachment To The Senate For Trial appeared first on The Political Insider.