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final question! Q12 from Debra in New Jersey: Who pays for the president’s defense counsel during an impeachment trial? #AskACS #ImpeachmentTrials
(1/2) The President personally pays for his private lawyers. The government lawyers (from the White House Counsel’s Office) receive their government salaries, paid out of the Treasury. -NK #AskACS
(2/2) A President could set up a defense fund, but the contributions made to such a fund are problematic and can be a source of real or apparent corruption. So, managing such a fund can be very tricky. -NK #AskACS
Q10 from @emmagomez1112: Is there still a chance we will hear from any new witnesses? #AskACS
@emmagomez1112 A 10 1/2: There's a chance. The Senate can call any witnesses it wants. Certainly, the President has suggested calling his own witnesses (Bidens).
2/2 Under McConnell's rules, they won't vote on calling witnesses until after the House managers and the President's defense team completes their opening statements. -NK #AskACS
Q5 @jaydenhohnson: What is basis for GOP’s claim that if Bolton testifies, then issues of executive privilege must be decided by the courts? Is there precedent for Senate itself to vote on whether testimony is covered by executive privilege? Can the Chief Justice make a ruling?
@jaydenhohnson A5: (1/2) The Chief Justice can make a ruling, but is unlikely to. Instead, I would expect him to refer the question to the full senate to be resolved by a simple majority vote. -NK #AskACS
A5: 2/2 If he were to make a ruling, it could be appealed to the Senate and resolved by majority vote. During the Clinton impeachment, claims of privilege were raised and resolved during the Starr investigation, prior to the Senate trial. -NK #AskACS
Q4: There are news reports today of a recording where you can hear President Trump ordering the firing of Amb Yovanovitch. Is it possible to get this new evidence into the record to be considered as part of the impeachment trial? #AskACS
A4: (1/2) Yes, the House managers can simply introduce the recording, and even play it, as part of their presentation. -NK #AskACS
(2/2) Under McConnell's impeachment rules, there would have to be a majority vote later to accept this and all other evidence into the record. There is no guarantee that this, or any other evidence, would be accepted by the Senate. -NK #AskACS
