Back on Capitol Hill where senators have 8hrs of Q&A left, starting at 1pm. At an impressive pace they fired off 93 questions yesterday to House managers and Trump’s attorneys. @CourthouseNews 
Senators filtering into a GOP luncheon ahead of today’s proceedings. No comment on Friday vote for witnesses.
Kennedy, asked where GOP is at on votes, responds “be cool honey bunny.”
Romney heads into GOP lunch says he’s not whipping votes.
Republicans at caucus lunch now strategizing a quick end to the impeachment trial with votes to acquit Friday.
Barrasso: “I don't know if Chuck Schumer has opportunities to try to slow down the process. But I think we don't end up leaving the Senate floor...until it’s done.”
Barrasso: “I don't know if Chuck Schumer has opportunities to try to slow down the process. But I think we don't end up leaving the Senate floor...until it’s done.”
Sweet moment just now between Senators Leahy (D) and Roberts (R) joking it’s not true that you have to be bald to be named Patrick and that they’re part of the octogenarian caucus. “He’s a great friend,” Leahy, “It’s true...we travel all over the world together,” Roberts.
Sen. Rand Paul plans to try again today with his whistleblower question blocked yesterday by Chief Justice Roberts.
Sen. Toomey back at it today with the boxes of sweets for the Senate press corps.
And into the press gallery I go.
Lots of movement on the floor yesterday, we’ll see if senators are roaming the chamber as freely for the next 8hrs of Q&A.
Lots of movement on the floor yesterday, we’ll see if senators are roaming the chamber as freely for the next 8hrs of Q&A.
.@RandPaul as promised submitted his blocked whistleblower question to Chief Justice Roberts again.
7 seconds passed in silence as Roberts read the question card to himself, then “the presiding officer declines to read the question as submitted.”
Paul then exited the chamber.
7 seconds passed in silence as Roberts read the question card to himself, then “the presiding officer declines to read the question as submitted.”
Paul then exited the chamber.
Sen. Romney told reporters earlier he's not whipping votes for tomorrow but interestingly has printouts of the GOP members' head shots in a folder on his desk with notes scrawled next to the photos.
Senators appear to be losing steam. Chamber was more than half empty when McConnell called his colleagues to be seated.
Murkowski and Collins entered together during the prayer.
Murkowski and Collins entered together during the prayer.
Follow up on Paul, he headed to the press studio after exiting the chamber and named the whistleblower on mic.
To be clear, Paul in the press studio read his question which includes the name of the alleged whistleblower. The whistleblower who reported the July 25 call has not been publicly confirmed.
Senators are disregarding the rules of the chamber with particular flare during Q&A as the impeachment trial drags into day nine. @CourthouseNews courthousenews.com/senators-let-l…
Right before breaking for dinner...
Sekulow: “Remember the fruit of the poisonous tree?”
Romney to Braun: “I could use some fruit right now.”
Sekulow: “Remember the fruit of the poisonous tree?”
Romney to Braun: “I could use some fruit right now.”
Sen. Cruz: “I think the vote on additional witnesses will be close...we may see a long night tomorrow.”
Sen. Cruz says the GOP senators still on the fence about witnesses are largely those discussed in the press.
(that’s Alexander, Collins, Murkowski, and Romney)
(that’s Alexander, Collins, Murkowski, and Romney)
Senators Murkowski and Romney passed the press pen with no comment.
Sen. Thune (majority whip) just told reporters there is a “high-level” of interest to get through a vote to acquit tomorrow, added he doesn’t expect closed door deliberations.
Gave no indication of where GOP is at on vote for witnesses.
Gave no indication of where GOP is at on vote for witnesses.
Sen. Alexander heading into dinner tells reporters he’ll have more to say after questions.
GOP dinner tonight: soft tacos
Eric Ueland side-steps question on whether Trump team is preparing for witnesses: “we’re always preparing.”
STAY TUNED Sen. Lamar Alexander plans to announce his decision tonight on whether to vote to subpoena witnesses.
Sen. Thune asked if he’s worried GOP will lose Murkowski’s vote on witnssses: “we hope we don’t lose anybody.”
Sen. Thune (GOP WHIP) asked if he’s met with Senators Alexander or Romney tells reporters.
“There have been numerous discussions and conversations among our members. We’re trying to make sure everybody gets to a comfortable place.”
“There have been numerous discussions and conversations among our members. We’re trying to make sure everybody gets to a comfortable place.”
TIME CHECK 2hr 52mins of Q&A left so stay up late with the D.C. press corps to learn how Sen. Alexander will vote on witnesses.
Back to the gallery.
Back to the gallery.
Sen. Alexander has two sets of notes going — he’s writing right now in a spiral notebook but also on occasion jots something down on a legal pad then covers it with a folded book.
Sen. Murkowski was absent for the first 10mins or so just now as the Senate reconvened after dinner.
Sen. Warren is tallying questions.
Schiff's response to Sen. Collins' question on why House Dems pulled the subpoena to Bolton's deputy seemed to spark a question for Schumer, who grabbed a question card and started writing.
Sen. Murkowski just asked "Why subpoena Bolton?"
As the White House responded, she took very little notes.
Sen. Alexander took no notes, arms crossed.
(had my eyes fixed on those two but from what I could see Sens. Collins or Romney also didn't take any notes)
As the White House responded, she took very little notes.
Sen. Alexander took no notes, arms crossed.
(had my eyes fixed on those two but from what I could see Sens. Collins or Romney also didn't take any notes)
Schiff quoting now from U.S. District Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson's opinion in which she called “absolute testimonial immunity” for senior-level aides like Don McGahn “baseless” and a “fiction” from the White House legal counsel.
Read up on it here >>> courthousenews.com/mcgahn-ordered…
Read up on it here >>> courthousenews.com/mcgahn-ordered…
McConnell calls 5m recess out of the blue. Reporters raced to the halls but no word on what the break is for...
McConnell walked by with no comment on why the sudden break. No other senators have exited the chamber that I can tell.
And McConnell is headed back inside.
Senators did leave the chamber during that brief recess, and when McConnell was ready to get going again the room was 2/3 empty.
MURKOWSKI: “Why should this body not call Ambassador [John] Bolton.” @CourthouseNews
courthousenews.com/gop-swing-vote…
courthousenews.com/gop-swing-vote…
Sen. Alexander took no notes as the White House answered that last question from Sen. Murkowski.
As Schiff responded, Alexander jotted down one note then stood to go lean against the railing at the back of the room.
As Schiff responded, Alexander jotted down one note then stood to go lean against the railing at the back of the room.
Schiff got laughs from both sides of the aisle just now.
S: “Says John [Bolton] —“
Roberts cuts him off, 5mins up
S: “To be continued...”
S: “Says John [Bolton] —“
Roberts cuts him off, 5mins up
S: “To be continued...”
BREAKING: SEN COLLINS states she is in support of subpoenaing witnesses, evidence.
COLLINS: “We have heard the cases argued and the questions answered. In keeping with the model used for the impeachment trial of President Clinton...Senators are able to make an informed judgment about what is in dispute and what is important to the underlying issues.”
BREAKING: @SenAlexander is a NO VOTE 🚨
“There is no need for more evidence to prove something that has already been proven and that does not meet the U.S. Constitution’s high bar for an impeachable offense.”
“There is no need for more evidence to prove something that has already been proven and that does not meet the U.S. Constitution’s high bar for an impeachable offense.”
.@lisamurkowski plans to sleep on it, told reporters she will announce tomorrow morning if she plans to vote to subpoena witnesses.
Count: 2 yes, 1 no, 1 undecided.
But Dems need 4 so now the motion dies on the floor unless a fourth GOP vote comes in unexpectedly.
Count: 2 yes, 1 no, 1 undecided.
But Dems need 4 so now the motion dies on the floor unless a fourth GOP vote comes in unexpectedly.
