Impeachment trial date set
Schumer: Arguments begin week of Feb. 8
Opening arguments in the Senate impeachment trial for former President Donald Trump on the charge of incitement of insurrection for the U.S. Capitol riot will begin the week of Feb. 8.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced the schedule Friday after reaching an agreement with Republicans, who had pushed to delay the trial to give Trump a chance to organize his legal team and prepare a defense. Under the timeline, the House will transmit the impeachment article against Trump on Monday.
WASHINGTON – Opening arguments in the Senate impeachment trial for Donald Trump on the charge of incitement of insurrection for the Capitol riot will begin the week of Feb. 8.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced the schedule Friday evening after reaching an agreement with Republicans, who had pushed to delay the trial to give Trump a chance to organize his legal team and prepare a defense.
Trump will be the first former president to face an impeachment trial after leaving office.
Under the timeline, the House will transmit the impeachment article against Trump late Monday, with initial proceedings Tuesday, but opening arguments will be pushed to February, which also allows the Senate time to confirm President Joe Biden’s Cabinet nominations and consider the COVID relief bill.
“We all want to put this awful chapter in our nation’s history behind us,” Schumer said about the deadly Capitol siege, which occurred Jan. 6 after Trump spoke at a D.C. rally.
“But healing and unity will only come if there is truth and accountability. And that is what this trial will provide.”
The House impeached Trump for “incitement of insurrection” on Jan. 13.
Schumer had been discussing how long the trial will last and when it will begin in earnest with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.
“But make no mistake, a trial will be held in the United States Senate, and there will be a vote whether to convict the president,” Schumer said.
The timing on when the House would transmit the article had been left in the air as the Senate changed from Republican to Democratic control and worked quickly to confirm several of Biden’s Cabinet nominees.
McConnell, the Republican leader from Kentucky, had been pushing for the House to send the document next Thursday and not starting the trial proceedings in earnest until mid-February. He argued the delay would allow Trump time to install a legal team.
“This impeachment began with unprecedentedly fast and minimal process in the House,” McConnell said on the floor earlier Friday. “The sequel cannot be an insufficient Senate process that denies former President Trump his due process or damages the Senate or presidency itself.”
But the House’s transmission of the impeachment article on Monday will start the process of the impeachment trial on Tuesday, several days earlier than McConnell’s proposed timeline.
Pelosi confirmed the House would send the article Monday, applauding the work of the nine House Democrats serving as impeachment managers.
Democrats would need the support of at least 17 Republicans to convict Trump, a high bar. While most Republican senators condemned Trump’s actions that day, far fewer appear to be ready to convict.