(Thread) Buckle up: The Senate Trial is Coming
Pelosi is prepared to introduce a resolution next week to appoint managers and transmit Articles of Impeachment to the Senate.
If you want to know her strategy and goal these past few weeks, Schumer laid it all out.
Pelosi is prepared to introduce a resolution next week to appoint managers and transmit Articles of Impeachment to the Senate.
If you want to know her strategy and goal these past few weeks, Schumer laid it all out.
1/ "I understand why McConnell is so frustrated,” Schumer said.
"If the Speaker had sent the Article of Impeachment over to the Senate immediately. . . Senate Republicans could have moved to dismiss the articles. There was a lot of talk about that. . ."
"If the Speaker had sent the Article of Impeachment over to the Senate immediately. . . Senate Republicans could have moved to dismiss the articles. There was a lot of talk about that. . ."
2/ “There wouldn’t have even been a cursory trial," Schumer said. "They might even have tried to dismiss the whole articles before Christmas.”
Instead, over the past few weeks, McConnell was prevented from doing that.
Instead, over the past few weeks, McConnell was prevented from doing that.
3/ Schumer says he and Pelosi have been focused on one thing: Getting a fair trial—by which he means a trial with witnesses and documents.
Because McConnell was unable to “stampede through a trial over Christmas” the country has focussed on witnesses and documents.
Because McConnell was unable to “stampede through a trial over Christmas” the country has focussed on witnesses and documents.
4/ During the three-week delay, additional disclosures of evidence have come to light, further incriminating the president and bolstering the argument for a fair trial.
Now GOP senators understand that a "truncated trial will play badly at home."
Now GOP senators understand that a "truncated trial will play badly at home."
5/ McConnell understands this, so now he doesn’t say “no witnesses.”
He says “we will decide later.”
"We all know McConnell has no interest in witnesses and documents."
The Democrats intend to keep pressuring for witnesses and documents.
“Just the facts,” Schumer says.
He says “we will decide later.”
"We all know McConnell has no interest in witnesses and documents."
The Democrats intend to keep pressuring for witnesses and documents.
“Just the facts,” Schumer says.
6/ The delay allowed this message to gain traction⤵️
Instead of waiting many months for the courts to decide whether witnesses must obey subpoenas, the House opted to call these witnesses at a trial.
Everyone knows that's what trials are for.
Instead of waiting many months for the courts to decide whether witnesses must obey subpoenas, the House opted to call these witnesses at a trial.
Everyone knows that's what trials are for.
7/ I discussed this strategy in depth a few weeks ago:
Moreover, during the past three weeks, Trump made some serious blunders. [Understatement!]
Moreover, during the past three weeks, Trump made some serious blunders. [Understatement!]
8/ . . . Blunders like the whole Iran fiasco, failing to brief the Senate, and so forth.
Also over the past three weeks, Trump’s approval on the 538 aggregate slipped.
Yes, it matters. Senators are elected officials.
Also over the past three weeks, Trump’s approval on the 538 aggregate slipped.
Yes, it matters. Senators are elected officials.
9/ From Bill Kristol ⤵️
Interesting note about the timing of the trial: Trump may end up giving his State of the Union Address during his Senate Impeachment trial.
I wonder if Pelosi considered that 🤔
Interesting note about the timing of the trial: Trump may end up giving his State of the Union Address during his Senate Impeachment trial.
I wonder if Pelosi considered that 🤔
10/ Also notice how the two Articles dovetail with the House strategy, and play off each other.
If Trump blocks witnesses and testimony in the trial, he proves the case for Article II, Obstruction of Justice.
The Republicans will probably still acquit, but they'll look absurd.
If Trump blocks witnesses and testimony in the trial, he proves the case for Article II, Obstruction of Justice.
The Republicans will probably still acquit, but they'll look absurd.
Oops. I was sloppy.
The Senate is also "Congress" so the point still holds.
The Senate is also "Congress" so the point still holds.
Will fix on the blog.
A note about Pelosi's timing. She says she will introduce a Resolution next week. There will be vote. Then she'll appoint managers.
The Senate is schedule for a recess and a holiday.
It seems the trial can't start until the last week of January.
The Senate is schedule for a recess and a holiday.
It seems the trial can't start until the last week of January.
My threads are also blog posts. This one is here: terikanefield-blog.com/buckle-up-the-…
I integrated a few other tweets from this morning.
I integrated a few other tweets from this morning.
Absolutely true.
The reason: Removing Trump has always been a long shot, and even if it happens, removing Trump isn't enough to save democracy.
Trump is the symptom of a party gone off the rails.
The reason: Removing Trump has always been a long shot, and even if it happens, removing Trump isn't enough to save democracy.
Trump is the symptom of a party gone off the rails.
I expect the House will present its case this way:
💠We have enough documents and witnesses to prove Trump's guilt.
💠But because Trump obstructed Congress, we don't have the full truth.
The Americans deserve the full truth.
#WitnessesAndDocuments
💠We have enough documents and witnesses to prove Trump's guilt.
💠But because Trump obstructed Congress, we don't have the full truth.
The Americans deserve the full truth.
#WitnessesAndDocuments
