Trump given time to prepare defence
Opening arguments in the Senate impeachment trial of Donald Trump on the charge of incitement of insurrection for the Capitol riot will begin during the week of February 8.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced the schedule yesterday after reaching an agreement with Republicans, who had pushed to delay the trial to give Trump a chance to organise his legal team and prepare a defence.
Trump will be the first former US president to face an impeachment trial after leaving office.
Under the timeline, the House will transmit the impeachment article against Trump on Tuesday, with initial proceedings on Wednesday, but opening arguments will be pushed to February, which also allows the Senate time to confirm President Joe Biden’s cabinet nominations and consider his Covid-19 relief bill.
‘‘We all want to put this awful chapter in our nation’s history behind us,’’ Schumer said about the deadly Capitol siege. ‘‘But healing and unity will only come if there is truth and accountability.
And that is what this trial will provide.’’
The urgency to hold Trump responsible is complicated by Democrats’ simultaneous need to get Biden’s government in place and start work on his coronavirus aid package. The trial could halt Senate work on those priorities.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the nine House impeachment managers, or prosecutors, were ‘‘ready to begin to make their case’’ against Trump.
Democrats say they can move quickly through the trial, potentially with no witnesses, because lawmakers experienced the insurrection firsthand.
Trump, who told his supporters to ‘‘fight like hell’’ just before they invaded the Capitol two weeks ago and interrupted the electoral vote count, is still assembling his legal team.
Democrats would need the support of at least 17 Republicans to convict Trump, a high bar. While most Republican senators have condemned Trump’s actions, far fewer appear to be ready to convict him.
A handful of Senate Republicans have indicated that they are open – but not committed – to conviction. But most have come to Trump’s defence as it relates to impeachment, saying they believe a trial will be divisive, and questioning the legality of trying a president after he has left office.
Other Republicans have suggested that there should be no trial at all. Wisconsin Senator Ron Johnson said Democrats were choosing ‘‘vindictiveness’’ over national security as Biden attempts to set up his government.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who said this week that Trump ‘‘provoked’’ his supporters before the riot, has not said how he will vote.