Posted on 01/29/2020 6:15:13 AM PST by Kaslin
After five days of opening arguments from Democrat impeachment managers and attorneys representing President Donald Trump, Senators will now be able to submit their questions to each side. Here is how things will work.
Like in the Clinton trial, Republicans and Democrats will alternate questions. The questions will only be directed toward Democrat House managers and attorneys representing President Trump. Senators are not allowed to ask each other questions and cannot directly challenge answers once they were given. Questions will not be asked by Senators directly, but instead will be submitted in writing to Chief Justice John Roberts, who will then read them out loud. The questions cannot be asked anonymously and must be signed by the Senators submitting the question. Questions can also be submitted as a group and around a dozen questions will be allowed before Majority Leader Mitch McConnell calls for a break. Democrat managers and attorneys for the President can take as much time as they'd like to answer submitted question. There is no time limit on their response.
Like previous days, the Senate will convene at 1 pm et to begin.
Sixteen hours have been allotted for questioning. When the questioning period is over, the Senate will vote on whether to call new witnesses not previously interviewed during the House inquiry. As of Tuesday night, McConnell reportedly does not have enough votes to block additional and new witnesses from being called or subpoenaed.
A source with knowledge of McConnell’s comments confirmed to Fox Business that the Kentucky Republican told people in a private meeting Tuesday that the GOP did not have the votes to block impeachment witnesses. A second source stressed that McConnell said he didn’t yet have the votes, with other sources saying Senate GOP leadership didn’t think the fight was over, and conversations were ongoing. The Wall Street Journal first reported McConnell’s comments.
Question 1 for Democrats: “Why are you so stupid?”
Thanks Kaslin.
Question One: Why have we not been given a copy of the original complaint and the transcript of the ICIG.
Mitt Romney’s question; I’m available to be President, does my stabbing my own party in the back make you want me more?
Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. Chief Justice, I have reached an agreement with the Democratic leader on how to proceed during the question period. Therefore, I ask unanimous consent that the question period for Senators start when the Senate reconvenes on Wednesday; further, that the questions alternate between the majority and minority sides for up to 8 hours during that session of the Senate; and finally, that on Thursday, the Senate resume time for Senators' questions, alternating between sides for up to 8 hours during that session of the Senate.The CHIEF JUSTICE. Is there objection? Without objection, it is so ordered.
Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. Chief Justice, we will complete the question period over the next 2 days. I remind Senators that their questions must be in writing and will be submitted to the Chief Justice. During the question period of the Clinton trial, Senators were thoughtful and brief with their questions, and the managers and counsel were succinct in their answers. I hope we can follow both of these examples during this time.
The CHIEF JUSTICE. During the impeachment trial of President Clinton, Chief Justice Rehnquist advised ``counsel on both sides that the Chair will operate on a rebuttable presumption that each question can be fully and fairly answered in 5 minutes or less.'' The transcript indicates that the statement was met with ``laughter.''
Nonetheless, managers and counsel generally limited their responses accordingly. I think the late Chief's time limit was a good one and would ask both sides to abide by it.
Hey, Mitch. It doesn't matter. Let these bast*rds vote... all of them...If it's for witnesses so be it... JUST VOTE AND GET THIS OVER.
Justice Roberts says,he will allow 5 minute answers per question, just like in the Clinton impeachment. It did not answer a question I have, “who goes first D’s or R’s, or are the questions random?
I assume these people will be under oath? If they are not under oath and cannot be directly challenged, they will just lie.
I think ‘Justice’ Roberts chooses the questions. Boy, he has turned out to be a backstabber extraordinaire, hasn’t he?
Who is the whistleblower?
Who is the source for the whistleblower?
Who changed the whistleblower form to allow hearsay?
Is the whistleblower form permanently changed to allow hearsay from all govt employees?
I haven't heard that detail, but certainly hope that it's not true. Let the sides stipulate the importance and sequence of their questions. No biased question pickers allowed!
Although this is a “trial” defined at the whim of the Senate, we see more than a plethora of parallels that the trial is equivalent to the trail of Grand Jury indictment.
Grand Jury trials, post-indictment, have a similar flow.
I ask, is the prosecutor who made the case in the Grand Jury to get the indictment, then allowed to supplement that indictment/case with “additional” witnesses not previously deposed during the GJ?
If yes, does the indictment require supplementation (OTW, the GJ is reconvened and the “new” witness is then deposed and the indictment changed?)?
Can the prosecution summarily introduce new evidence not charged in the original GJ indictment?
I’m not familiar with the post-indictment trial rules. I ask you cuz you are my go-to guy for these types of things.
The rules of evidence in court generally but not totally preclude late evidence.
The only time a GJ needs to reconvene is to bring an unrelated charge. The prosecutor has discretion to modify, plea deal, etc. to lesser charges.
But as you can see, impeachment is unique in that the senate is simultaneously judge, jury, and advocates for opposing sides. They claim they are bound to follow the truth, etc., but that is a hollow promise. The outcome is as good or bad as the combined sound and moral judgment of the group. The process can certainly tolerate a good number of amoral skunks, provided they are relegated to the sidelines. What is going on here is the amoral skunks are running the public show, and the sound reasoning is ignored or summarily dismissed as “content free” or “erroneous.”
Roberts will read the questions. Not pick and choose which ones will be read.
"Questions will not be asked by Senators directly, but instead will be submitted in writing to Chief Justice John Roberts, who will then read them out loud."
My question: Why did you submit an incomplete record of the House Intelligence Committee depositions, which did not include testimony by the ICIG that you classified as secret?
Thank you.
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