Sharing some thoughts from my seat in the Senate press gallery - about 1/3 full - during Schiff’s closing speech.
Trump’s legal team had thinned out from the main defense table by the time Schiff closed, w/ Jay Sekulow scribbling notes on a yellow notepad & White House counsel Pat Cipollone sitting attentively with his arm on the back of an empty chair.
Lindsey Graham cracked a smile when Schiff made the self deprecating joke about how Trump personally keeps attacking “this Schiff guy.”
McConnell chuckled moments later when Schiff made the joke about how Trump has thin skin but likes to mock other people.
Looked to be about 150 people in the public gallery, w/ light audible laughter when Schiff made some of his jokes and other self-deprecating moments.
Bernie Sanders and Amy Klobuchar were both scribbling madly as Schiff talked about military service.
Several Republican senators behind McConnell audibly gasped when Schiff mentioned the head on stake quote from the CBS story. McConnell and his top aide Laura Dove both looked very uncomfortable.
As Schiff wrapped several GOP senators that I could see from my vantage point were giving him their full attention, including McConnell, Shelby, Roberts, Murkowski, Collins, Crapo, Blunt, Sullivan, Capito & Cruz.
After the proceedings ended several Democratic senators came over to congratulate the House managers & their staff. Elizabeth Warren hugged Val Demings and shook hands with Garcia, Crow & Nadler. Chief Justice Roberts had to squeeze behind that group to leave the chamber.
Schiff shook hands and accepted congratulations from Michael Bennet and Sherrod Brown. Amy Klobuchar shook hands with HJC aide Norm Eisen and House Intel staffer Dan Goldman. #30#
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