Posted on 12/19/2019 9:57:05 AM PST by Mariner
Mitch McConnell on Thursday threatened to cancel Donald Trump's impeachment trial in the Senate if 'scared' Nancy Pelosi doesn't send over the formal articles of impeachment against the president.
The speaker and the Senate Republican leader went to war over the next steps in the impeachment process as Pelosi slammed McConnell as a 'rogue leader' - and he blasted her articles as 'slapdash' and 'unfair.'
The dispute exploded into the open the morning after Democrats voted to impeach Trump, with the president bragging he was going to win the whole thing by 'default.'
'If the Do Nothing Democrats decide, in their great wisdom, not to show up, they would lose by Default!,' Trump argued on Twitter of his upcoming Senate trial, which is now in doubt.
Pelosi has to 'transmit' the articles of impeachment and appoint 'managers' to prosecute the president - but offered no timeline on when she would do that, saying she wanted to see the Senate's plan for a 'fair trial,' effectively holding the articles over McConnell and Trump's heads.
McConnell, who previously said he wanted to hold the trial in January, responded: 'It's beyond me how the Speaker and Democratic Leader in the Senate think withholding the articles of impeachment and not sending them over gives them leverage.
'Frankly, I'm not anxious to have the trial. If she thinks her case is so weak she doesn't want to send it over, throw me into that briar patch.'
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
They think they can even dictate terms to the Senate.
Clutch the pearls
Complete garbage, this is all a means of control. Impeachment is now the harness with which congress will restrain Trump. It’s out there, if Trump does not toe the line they will pull the trigger. Where are the fact finding hearings in the senate? Will mcconnell put the senate in recess so Trump can make recess appointments? I think not. They’ve queued up impeachment so they can remove Trump in short order if he steps out of line.
If Pelosi does not want an acquittal through Senate trial, Mitch just handed her exactly that and it will be the Republican’s fault.
If they can dictate to the Senate, they can
dictate to you and me...they prefer it that way.
My last link....Includes the rules for the Senate trial from Bubba’s trial.
No Congressional break until they deliver
After all, Pelosi pled urgency because Trump is a danger to national security, So the House needs to stay in session to protect the Republic,
That's raciss! /s
I believe they can do that even without the articles in front of them..just hold a Senate hearing and dismiss it..game over
Biased story full of weasel words. But I hope Mitch plays hardball.
Yes, but fund the government first.
McConnell can ride it out. After the elections the impeachment goes away. If Nancy doesn’t send it over so be it.
Give them until the end of the week to transmit.
If they don’t, at 5PM on Friday, vote to dismiss and go home.
No more impeachment.
Fund THIS ridiculous Government..nah I dont think so..let it rot
I just heard Rush playing McConnels's statements in the senate.
Sounded mighty tough to me.
Sure, they think they can dictate terms to the Senate. They also think they can dictate terms to the President (remember Nancy’s finger in the President’s face?). I’m beginning to think this impeachment might be a real asset for the President.
Since they can’t schedule a trial until the articles of impeachment are delivered then there’s nothing to cancel.
I am glad that leading Democrats seem to have buyer’s remorse about the least fair, least thorough, and most rushed impeachment in American history. They should. But for the sake of the country, I wish this understanding had dawned on them yesterday.— Leader McConnell (@senatemajldr) December 19, 2019
Leader McConnell needs to set a DEADLINE (in January) for the House to send the articles of impeachment to the Senate.
If the deadline is not met, the Leader should cancel the trial as he said!!
If the House does send the articles of impeachment to the Senate, he should call for the Senate to DISMISS the articles without a formal trial!!!
The Dims’ impeachment is so ridiculous that it deserves to be dismissed! Then the Congress can get on with the business of the country, as soon as possible!!!!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.