Historic case opens; lawmakers sworn in
Senators, chief justice prepare for arguments Tuesday
WASHINGTON – The Senate opened the impeachment trial Thursday of President Donald Trump by swearing in Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts and then having him swear in senators who will hear the case, setting the stage for oral arguments to begin Tuesday.
Trump is accused of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress for pressuring Ukraine to investigate his political rival, former Vice President Joe Biden, while withholding $391 million in military aid. During the House inquiry, the White House directed aides and agencies to defy subpoenas for testimony and documents.
But Trump, who has said he expects to be exonerated in the trial, has said he was justified in trying to fight corruption in Ukraine.
“It’s a hoax,” Trump said Thursday of the impeachment. “It’s a shame.”
A two-thirds majority of the Senate would be required to convict and remove Trump, which is unlikely in the chamber, where Republicans outnumber Democrats 53-47.
WASHINGTON – After a whirlwind day on Capitol Hill on Thursday, the stage is set for the next chapter in the impeachment of President Donald Trump.
Next up, according to deadlines set by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, the House lawmakers who serve as prosecutors and White House lawyers will have to file written arguments in the case: The House has until 5 p.m. Saturday to file its brief, the White House until noon Monday for its response and the House until noon Tuesday for its rebuttal. The trial resumes Tuesday at 1 p.m.
Trump is accused of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress for pressuring Ukraine to investigate rival Joe Biden while withholding $391 million in military aid.
Chief Justice John Roberts, who will preside over the Senate trial, arrived Thursday from the Supreme Court across the street wearing his black judicial robe for the ceremonial start of the trial. He was escorted into the chamber by Republican Sens. Roy Blunt of Missouri, chairman of the Rules Committee, and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, chairman of the Judiciary Committee, and Democrats Sens. Patrick Leahy, DVt., the longest-serving senator, and Dianne Feinstein of California, top Democrat on the Judiciary Committee.
“Senators, I attend the Senate in conformity with your notice for the purpose of joining with you for the trial of the president of the United States,” Roberts said from the dais. “I am now prepared to take the oath.”
The longest-serving Republican, Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa, administered the oath to Roberts. “God bless you,” Grassley said afterward. “Thank you,” Roberts replied.
Roberts then recited the trial oath for senators, who stood at their desks and raised their right hands.
“Do you solemnly swear that in all things appertaining to the trial of the impeachment of Donald John Trump, president of the United States now pending, you will do impartial justice according to the Constitution and laws, so help you God?” Roberts asked.
“I do,” senators replied in unison. Senators were then called in alphabetical order to sign the oath book.
The start of the trial came amid heightened security throughout the Capitol. As the seven House managers carried the articles across the Capitol, the Rotunda was cleared of people except for reporters and a few lawmakers who came to watch.
The lead manager, House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, D-Calif., read the articles aloud in a hushed Senate chamber just after noon as senators sat at their mahogany desks.
Many senators studiously took notes on yellow legal pads or notebooks from their desks.
“They help me remember the information that’s being presented,” said Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y. “I was a note-taker in school, so I like to write as I listen.”
Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., also jotted down notes, explaining that they could come in handy later.
“I was just writing everything down because this is important proceeding. I’m a lawyer, former prosecutor,” Klobuchar said. “I like to write notes, and one of the things you find out when you write everything down is then everyone comes over and says, ‘What did they just say?’ ”
Trump says he expects to be exonerated in the trial. On Thursday, he again called the impeachment a hoax.
Vice President Mike Pence called the impeachment “a shameful attempt to overturn the results of the last election” during a campaign event in Tampa, Fla.
“Don’t worry, everybody, its all going to work out fine,” Pence said.
A contentious question lingering for senators is if to subpoena witnesses or documents for the trial. Some Republicans contend that gaps in evidence reflect the shoddy investigation they say the House conducted. But Democrats argued that incriminating evidence continues to emerge against Trump.
Former national security adviser John Bolton, who declined an invitation to testify during the House inquiry, said he would testify under subpoena in the trial. Lev Parnas, an indicted associate of Trump’s personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, provided a trove of evidence this week that House lawmakers are scrutinizing.
“I don’t know him,” Trump said Thursday. “I never had a conversation I remember with him.” Trump called Giuliani, a former federal prosecutor, “a great crime fighter.”
And the Government Accountability Office released a report Thursday saying the White House Office of Management and Budget violated federal law by withholding the military aid despite Congress appropriating the money.
“The OMB, the White House, the administration – I’m saying this – broke the law,” said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. “This reinforces again the need for documents and eyewitnesses in the Senate.”
Senators aren’t expected to make a decision about calling witnesses until after the House managers and White House lawyers give their opening arguments and after senators pose written questions submitted to Roberts to both sides.