Trump impeachment trial: what is happening and what to expect

Today, January 21, the Senate began a trial of impeachment of President Donald Trump. USA Today offers several questions and answers about what to expect from this process.

Фото: Depositphotos

What's going on

The Constitution gives the Senate exclusive power to conduct impeachment proceedings. Before the start of the hearing, senators swear that a two-thirds majority must be cast to remove an official from office, and the head of the Supreme Court presides over the case.

The process began on January 16 with an oath of office as Chief Justice John Roberts. He then swore an oath to the senators. Impeachment managers and White House lawyers filed written arguments on January 18 and 19. On January 21, the meeting resumed at 13:00.

Senators discussed how to conduct the process in detail.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell proposed allotting 24 hours to each side to present the case within two days of the session. Then the senators will have 16 hours to ask written questions through Judge Roberts to both parties.

After the opening arguments and questions on the plan, 4 hours of discussion follow on whether it is necessary to call witnesses or require documents.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said he would propose amendments to prevent House Democrats from automatically admitting their evidence into the record and arguing late into the night to "hide information from the American people."

“Under this resolution, Senator McConnell is saying that he does not want to hear any existing evidence or any new evidence,” Schumer said.

A majority of the Senate with 51 votes will determine the rules of the trial, in which 53 Republicans and 47 Democrats participate.

On the subject: US Senate begins trial on impeachment trump

Photo: video frame YouTube / Fox News

Will there be witnesses in court

One of the most controversial aspects is the debate over whether to call witnesses. Democrats want to call at least four witnesses, including former national security adviser John Bolton. But some Republicans said witnesses would be redundant or they suggested calling the whistleblower who launched the impeachment inquiry and Hunter Biden, the son of former Vice President Joe Biden.

Mitch McConnell said he has votes to defer the decision on witnesses to hearing introductory arguments from House managers and White House lawyers, and until Senators present written questions to both parties.

"When you get to this issue, I can't imagine that the only witnesses that will be called are the ones our Democratic colleagues want to call," McConnell said.

Chuck Schumer initiated subpoenas for four witnesses and requested three batches of documents.

“Once Senator McConnell proposes this resolution, I will propose amendments to correct many of the flaws in this grossly unfair proposal and subpoena the witnesses and documents we have requested,” Schumer said.

But even GOP senators, open on the issue of witness invitation, said they would wait to make a decision before opening statements and written questions, as suggested by McConnell.

“Even though I need to hear the case and have questions answered, I am inclined to believe that it would be helpful to have more information,” said Sen. Susan Collins, who supported calling witnesses in former President Bill Clinton's 1999 trial. .

Mitch McConnell opens the meeting. Photo: video frame YouTube / Fox News

Who will present the case

7 Democrats in the House of Representatives, who are called impeachment managers, will present a case that accuses Trump of abuse of office: this applies to pressure on Ukraine, an investigation into the case of former vice president Joe Biden, and the retention of $ 391 million in military assistance. Trump is also accused of obstructing Congress because, according to the Democrats, he tried to boycott the investigation.

The impeachment managers are House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler, House Democratic Caucus Chairman Hakeem Jeffries, Administration Committee Chairman Zoe Lofgren, Intelligence Committee Member Val Damings, Armed Services Committee Member Jason Crowe and Judiciary Committee member Sylvia Garcia.

Trump’s lead advocates will be White House attorney Pat Cipollone and private attorney Jay Seculow. Other lawyers who defended the president on television and will help his team include Alan Dershowitz, a prominent Harvard law professor; Kenneth Starr, an independent lawyer investigating the Clinton case; and Robert Ray, who replaced Starr as an independent lawyer in Clinton’s last year.

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The White House announced that it supplemented its legal team with eight Republicans who fought impeachment in this House. Officials said they would not argue about this case during a Senate trial, but would provide legal advice and appear in the media.

House Republicans helping Trump are Doug Collins, Mike Johnson, Jim Jordan, Debbie Lesko, Mark Meadows, John Ratcliffe, Elise Stefanik and Lee Zeldin.

“Throughout this entire process, these members of Congress have provided direction to the White House team,” Trump spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham said.

Adam Schiff, lead impeachment manager. Photo: video frame YouTube / Fox News

Is the court public

The trial is public, but can sometimes be closed, as senators discuss the rules or the verdict. Voting by rules and verdict will be public.

Access to the Senate wing in the Capitol is limited, security measures are strengthened, so employees and journalists need special powers to get inside. But the balconies overlooking the Chamber will remain open to the public and journalists so that they can observe the process.

The process is broadcast on television and online, but using cameras controlled by the government.

The Senate can sometimes go to a closed meeting. In accordance with the rules, any senator can apply for a closed meeting, and if he is supported, the Senate will go to a closed meeting, having cleaned the galleries and closing the doors. Lawmakers and staff are not allowed to disclose what is being discussed in private meetings.

The Senate met regularly secretly in past centuries, discussing treaties or appointments. According to a Congressional Research Service report, in the past century, senators have secretly met dozens of times over debates on national security and impeachment. The report said that during the Clinton trial in 1999, six secret sessions were held.

Chuck Schumer said there could be closed sessions, but he would rather leave most of the trial open.

How long will the process last

The deadline is not set. It was tentatively assumed that consideration of the arguments of the leaders of the Chamber and the White House lawyers with written questions from senators could take 2 weeks. If senators agree to call witnesses, it could take 3 or 4 weeks longer.

The Clinton trial in 1999 took about 6 weeks with pauses to file written arguments and hand witnesses.

Speech by Chuck Sumer. Photo: video frame YouTube / Fox News

What about turning to the nation?

President Donald Trump has accepted an invitation from the House of Representatives to deliver his State of the Union Address to a joint session of Congress on February 4. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Trump has several options. The President could give his speech, he could present a printed statement, "which has been the tradition for a long time," or he could ask for the speech to be delayed until after the trial.

“It’s up to the president,” Pelosi said.

Senator Roy Blunt expects Trump to deliver a speech, even if the trial continues.

“As I recall, President Clinton gave an address to the nation in the middle of this process, and I would not expect any reason to believe that this would not happen,” Blunt said.

But Sen. Lindsay Graham said Trump would prefer to end the trial before speaking.

“He's determined to address the nation, put all this behind him, talk about what he wants to do for the rest of 2020 and the next four years,” Graham said. “He really likes the idea that this will all be good for him.”

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