His ‘unacceptable’ conduct ‘demeaned office’
possibility that they’d back a censure resolution.
Because of the GOP-controlled Senate’s 53-47 split, at least four Republicans would need to break ranks for a censure to be adopted, assuming all Democrats vote in favor.
However, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell would likely need to give his approval for Manchin’s resolution to even be put up for a floor vote.
McConnell (R-Ky.), who’s been stringently focused on acquitting Trump since his impeachment trial began last month, would likely be hard-pressed to do so. A spokesman for the ironfisted majority leader declined to comment.
Manchin’s call for a censure came after Trump’s legal team and the Democratic impeachment managers made their final pitches for and against removing the president from office.
California Rep. Adam Schiff, the lead impeachment manager, made an impassioned plea for removal, saying no one can doubt Trump will continue to seek to do whatever it takes to win reelection.
“You can’t trust this president to do the right thing, not for one minute, not for one election, not for the sake of our country,” Schiff said.
Schiff also accused GOP senators of effectively emboldening Trump to commit further abuses by voting for his acquittal.
“What are the odds if left in office that he will continue trying to cheat? I will tell you: 100%,” Schiff said.
Trump’s defense team countered that the Democratic case for removal is strictly about politics.
“At the end of the day, this is an effort to overturn the results of one election and to try to interfere in the coming election that begins today in Iowa,” said White House counsel Pat Cipollone, referring to the Hawkeye State caucuses.
Trump himself will get a chance to speak during his State of the Union address Tuesday night.
A vote on the articles of impeachment is expected Wednesday afternoon. At least 67 senators need to vote in favor of either article for Trump to be removed from office, which appears virtually impossible.
Reactions to Schiff’s speech were predictably split along party lines.
“It gave me a sanctimonious feel,” said Sen. Mike Braun (R-Ind.). “I think it worked good to his district there in Hollywood. I don’t think that appealed to the broad section of middle America.”
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) was distraught by the
Republican scoffing.
“I was so moved by his speech,” he told reporters. “If that didn’t do it, I don’t know what would.”
It remains unclear whether House Democrats will continue to push for additional evidence of Trump’s Ukraine scandal by subpoenaing key outstanding witnesses like fired national security adviser John Bolton, whom the Senate refused to hear.
Impeachment manager Val Demings (D-Fla.) mocked GOP senators Monday by noting that Bolton’s blockbuster account is “soon to be available, if not to this body, then to bookstores near you.”
Bolton’s forthcoming White House memoir fingers Trump for personally ordering the improper quid pro quo at the heart of the Ukraine scandal that led to his impeachment, according to leaked excerpts.
Besides Bolton, there are troves of secret emails and other documents that Democrats still want to see after Trump successfully stonewalled the impeachment probe.
Hours after Republicans put the kibosh on new evidence Friday, the Justice Department announced it has dozens of documents about Trump’s decision to withhold aid to Ukraine to gain an edge in the 2020 election. Unless the House moves, it’s not clear if Americans will ever see all the evidence about the scheme.
“Midnight in Washington,” Schiff said as part of his closing statement. “All too tragic a metaphor for where the country finds itself at the conclusion of the — only the third impeachment in history — and the first impeachment trial without witnesses or documents … How did we get here?”