All the president’s liars

The impeachment trial of Donald J. Trump launched Tuesday with a day-long fight over Senate rules to determine whether witnesses and documents, including a former national security adviser with critical evidence who is all but begging to testify, might be heard.

While Republicans voted along party lines to table Democrats’ motions, House managers were devastating in their preliminary arguments outlining the president’s abuse of power and obstruction of Congress arising out of the Ukraine shakedown. In contrast, the White House legal team obfuscated and, frankly, lied. Among several whoppers:

White House Counsel Pat Cipollone claimed, “Not even [House Manager Rep. Adam Schiff’s] Republican colleagues were allowed into the SCIF,” referring to the secure House room where depositions were heard. In truth, all members of the relevant committees — of both parties — were let in the room, and given equal time to question witnesses.

Trump lawyer Jay Sekulow charged that Special Counsel Bob Mueller found “no obstruction” in his Russia probe. In truth, Mueller identified 10 examples of likely obstruction on the president’s part but, citing Justice Department policy, declined to state whether the president broke the law.

Sekulow also claimed that Trump was blocked from having counsel during the House Judiciary impeachment hearings. Wrong; the White House declined to participate.

The old lawyer’s adage goes: When the facts are on your side, pound the facts. When the law is on your side, pound the law. When neither is on your side, pound the table.

One day in, Republicans’ hands are already hurting.