John Roberts blocks Rand Paul's question on whistleblower

The Hill ^ | 01 29 2020 | Jordain Carney

[yesthatjallen]

Sen. Rand Paul's (R-Ky.) attempt to ask about the whistleblower whose report helped spark the impeachment inquiry is running into a roadblock in the form of Chief Justice John Roberts.

A source confirmed that Roberts has indicated he would not read a question from Paul regarding the whistleblower at the center of the House impeachment inquiry.

The question from Paul is expected to name the individual. Because Roberts is responsible for reading the questions that would put him in the position of publicly outing the person on the Senate floor.

Paul indicated to reporters after a closed-door Republican dinner that he was not backing from trying to ask his question.

“It’s still an ongoing process; it may happen tomorrow,” the libertarian-leaning senator told reporters as he headed back to the Senate chamber.

The Senate is in its first of two days for senators to question both House managers and President Trump's legal team.

Senators have been submitting their questions to Republican leadership, who were responsible for weeding out duplicate questions.

SNIP

[ldish]

Yea, well I think I made my point with you reponse...so long twister!

[doug from upland]

[John S Mosby]

Yes, that would be quite something. Probably not something Mitch would engineer— but my goodness, if he DID!? Whoah!

Constitutionally speaking the Senate and the Senate Majority Leader has the power to rule the Constitutional “administrative magistrate” out of order, and null and void in regards to the screening of questions.

” All questions are not to be “adjudicated” by the Chief Administrator, under the Rules of the Senate. The Administrator will cease and desist, in editing questions asked in this Trial, of any of the Managers.”