Every Republican senator just voted to block key document subpoenas, so that the trial will begin with those documents still concealed. Cover up step one is complete.
Every Republican senator just voted to block yet more key document subpoenas so that the trial will begin with essentially all government documents concealed. Cover up step two is complete.
Every Republican senator just voted to block document subpoenas to OMB so that the trial will begin without the benefit of any internal documents related to the withholding of funds to Ukraine. Cover up step three is complete.
Every Republican senator just voted to block a subpoena for Mick Mulvaney, so that the trial will proceed without his testimony, which can be blocked again at the end. Cover up step four is complete.
Every Republican senator just voted to block Pentagon document subpoenas, so that the trial will begin with their contents still concealed. Cover up step five is complete.
Every Republican senator just voted to block subpoenas for Robert Blair and Michael Duffey, so that the trial will proceed without their testimony, which can be blocked again at the end. Cover up step six is complete.
Every Republican senator just voted to allow Trump to introduce documents cherrypicked to mislead the public, rather than require him to turn over all documents under subpoena. Cover up step seven–and it's a big one–is complete.
Every Republican senator just voted to block a subpoena for John Bolton, so that the trial will proceed without his testimony, which can be blocked again at the end. Cover up step eight is complete.
Steps nine and 10 of the cover-up–bringing the trial rules into closer alignment with the Clinton rules, and allowing counsel a day off to prepare–have now been completed too. All Republicans voted for the first one. A single Republicans joined Dems to vote for a day off.
Every Republican senator just voted against assigning John Roberts to opine on the relevance of proposed witnesses–advisory opinions that the Senate would have the power to overturn. Cover up step 11 is complete.
All 53 Republican senators, and zero Democrats, just voted for McConnell's rules resolution. The trial, which Republicans have unilaterally rigged for Donald Trump, will begin in earnest this afternoon. Good night.
