Former President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial will be conducted on the Senate floor, live on TV. The Senate investigation into Sens. Cruz and Hawley will take place behind closed doors by one of the most secretive committees in Congress: Senate Ethics
The probe into whether the two senators played a role in inciting the violent Capitol attack will unwind over an interminable timetable with little hint of where it is going.
“Neither of us are going to talk about it at all,” said Lankford, vice chair. Coons is chairman
7 Dems argue Cruz and Hawley ‘lent legitimacy” to the cause of those who invaded Capitol. Hawley fired back with a counter complaint alleging “improper conduct” for partisan gain.
Asked about Hawley’s counter-complaint, Sen. Smith pointed at her face: "You see my eye rolling?"
Why Ethics? Because it doesn't appear censure has any legs and GOP not into punishing their members for the electoral objections. Rs don't like Ethics complaint either
Thune: “draconian for the other side to try and take that action given senators’ First Amendment rights."
So how long will this take? Who knows. Ethics' last action about a senator was in 2018, its last press release was about Al Franken in 2017
Durbin said he expected the investigation “to take a long time. Let’s be honest about it, it’s a very serious matter."
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@lbarronlopez@marianne_levine “This is the smartest and best place for the president to start on his unity promises,” argued Sen. Capito. “That’s where I think the president has to show the leadership of what he has said he wants to do."
Sen. Portman told colleagues Dems/WH are "blowing it"
@lbarronlopez@marianne_levine Thune says coalition Rs "felt a little bit betrayed by the representations that they were getting about the Democrats’ intentions. And then having their leadership and the White House short-circuiting that and doing it all through reconciliation.”
Here’s how fragile Democrats’ Senate majority is: The brief Tuesday hospitalization of Senate pro tem Patrick Leahy prompted nearly everyone in the Capitol to research Vermont’s Senate vacancy laws, just in case.
@marianne_levine@meridithmcgraw Brian Jack, Trump’s former political director, quietly informed Senate Rs over the weekend that the 3rd-party thing is bunk.
Tump may play in primaries against those who convict them
More Cramer: “The Republican Party is still overwhelmingly supportive of this president.”
@marianne_levine@meridithmcgraw Almost no Senate Rs defending Trump. Tremendous contrast from last year's impeachment trial.
Braun, Barrasso indicate they won't hustle to cameras to defend Trump. Even Hawley says "The ex-president's rhetoric on the day was inflammatory. I think it was irresponsible."
In interview, Manchin is emphatic: there’s no circumstance he would vote to gut filibuster. he pledges to McConnell he “will not” vote to blow it up over the next two years
“I hope with that guarantee in place he will work in a much more amicable way.”
Some Democrats say if Republicans block Democrats’ priorities, it’s worth preserving the ability to change the rules later. Asked if there is any scenario that would change his mind, he replied: “None whatsoever that I will vote to get rid of the filibuster.”
“I'm in the same place I've always been. Busting the filibuster under any conditions is wrong. We can organize the Senate. I’m sure we can work through that. If he knows as strongly as I feel about it?” Manchin said of McConnell.
@lbarronlopez Collins concerned some families earning $300K can get checks
“That was a general issue that was expressed around a number of things: The more targeted the assistance can be where it's needed most, the more helpful,” said Sen. Shaheen.
@lbarronlopez The $1.9 trillion topline number is an issue too.
“This isn’t monopoly money,” says Sen. King
"administration clearly is very eager to move very quickly. And we want to make sure that there is justification, especially since there's so much money remaining," Sen. Collins adds
Schumer says impeachment trial will start in two weeks, as requested by McConnell and supported by Biden.
This also helps Biden's Cabinet. He locks in Yellen's confirmation vote for Monday
Impeachment schedule:
Jan. 25: Exhibition of article
Jan. 26: Swearing in of senators, issuance of summons
Feb. 2: President’s answer to article, House’s pre-trial brief
Feb. 8: President’s pre-trial brief
Feb. 9: Due date for House’s pre-trial rebuttal brief ... trial begins
Technically this is a few days before McConnell requested, so he gave a little bit here. Nevertheless he's happy
"This is a win for due process and fairness," says @DougAndres