USA TODAY International Edition
‘ Eyes are on Senate’ as opposing sides spar
WASHINGTON – White House lawyers and House managers sparred over rules on the first day of debate in the historic impeachment trial of President Donald Trump on Tuesday, setting the stage for opening arguments to begin as early as Wednesday.
Throughout the day the president’s defense team blasted the case against Trump as a “ridiculous” and “outrageous” threat to the republic, rather than debating the trial rules they supported. Lead House impeachment manager Adam Schiff, D- Calif., meanwhile, outlined the case against Trump while arguing the Senate needs to subpoena witnesses and documents so it could conduct a fair trial.
Tuesday’s proceedings were the culmination of months of revelations, investigations and hearings in the wake of a whistleblower complaint into a phone call April 21, 2019, between Trump and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky. That call, which Trump has labeled “perfect,” led to accusations that Trump had tried to leverage $ 391 million in U. S. aid to Ukraine in exchange for digging up dirt on his political rival Joe Biden.
Even before Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts gaveled the proceedings into session, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell relented on his initial proposal to allow each side 24 hours of debate over two 12- hour sessions, which Democrats attacked as “rigged” in the president’s favor.
McConnell, R- Ky., changed the resolution to allow three days for arguments. He also said House evidence that has already been gathered “will be” entered into the Senate’s trial record. Democrats had feared that
“The country is waiting to see if we can rise to the occasion.” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell
McConnell’s previous language, which said evidence “may be” admitted, would allow Republicans to vote against accepting the evidence.
“This is the fair road map for our trial,” McConnell said. “The eyes are on the Senate. The country is waiting to see if we can rise to the occasion.”
Trump was impeached in the House of Representatives a week before Christmas on a largely party- line vote after contentious hearings by the Intelligence and Judiciary committees that often saw their Democratic chairmen booed by Republicans.
Tuesday’s proceedings were a much more staid affair, with party- line votes still expected to carry the day, but this time in favor of Republicans. A 51- vote majority will set the rules in the chamber, with 53 Republicans and 47 Democrats. Indeed, the first vote of the day, nearly three hours after the session opened, went down on a 53- 47 partyline vote that tabled an amendment from Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer to change the organizing rules for the trial to subpoena all documents from the White House relevant to Democrats’ allegations against Trump.
Republicans argued Democrats’ call for more documents meant they were bringing a factually deficient case to trial, while Democrats highlighted the White House’s prior failure to comply with congressionally issued subpoenas.
A second amendment from Schumer, D- N. Y., regarding subpoenas of State Department documents, including Trump’s communications with Zelensky, met an identical fate as did a third amendment on documents from the White House Budget Office. After a short dinner break, the Senate was to begin debate on a fourth amendment regarding a subpoena for acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney.
Senate Republicans have indicated they wanted to vote on subpoenaing witnesses and documents after the first phase of the trial.
“If any amendments are brought forward to force premature decisions on midtrial questions, I will move to table such amendments and protect our bipartisan precedent,” McConnell said in a speech on the Senate floor earlier.
The proceedings also played out in front of a public audience that packed the balcony overlooking the chamber, including actress and activist Alyssa Milano, who sat in the front row, listening intently.
As senators took their seats, they were greeted by staff passing out the trial briefs filed by House managers and the White House. Many senators brought along notebooks. Cory Gardner, R- Colo., came prepared with a stack of sticky notes at the ready on his desk, along with dividers.
Republican senators warmly greeted Trump’s defense team, many smiling and shaking hands or patting members of the group on the back. The team sat prepared with stacks of books and binders, including one with the White House logo that was labeled simply:
“Impeachment.”
Democratic senators similarly shook hands and exchanged words with House managers before the debates began.
The two opposing panels sat at curved black tables, with glasses of water.
The atmosphere in the Senate was starkly different from the more raucous impeachment proceedings in the House, when Republicans would vocally voice their disapproval of Democrats arguments by booing Schiff, chairman of the House Intelligence Committee.
On Tuesday, Senate Republicans reacted sedately, quietly taking notes and intensely listing as Democratic impeachment managers played video and audio of Trump saying he "would love" for senior administration officials like Mulvaney to testify.
Senate rules prohibit side conversations and enforce a quiet debate “on pain of imprisonment.”
Senators also were prohibited from having their cellphones during the proceedings and were allowed to bring in documents relating to the trial.
During one break, Sen. Patrick Leahy, D- Vt., did an impression of Gollum from “The Lord of the Rings” after retrieving his phone to demonstrate how senators feel when they get their phones back, acting out: “Oh my precious!”
Later, as Democratic Rep. Val Demings of Florida, one of the House impeachment managers, argued that the chamber should subpoena the State Department for documents regarding Ukraine, Sen. Jim Risch, R- Idaho, slouched back in his chair, cradled his head in hand and shut his eyes, apparently becoming the first senator who appeared to doze off during the debate.
Republican senators warmly greeted Trump’s defense team, many smiling and shaking hands or patting members of the group on the back.