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Democrats to ask Chief Justice Roberts to rule on witnesses amid fading hopes of winning vote
ABC "News" ^ | January 30, 2020 | By Stephanie Ebbs

Posted on 01/31/2020 5:45:30 AM PST by Oldeconomybuyer

Democrats are increasingly looking to get Chief Justice John Roberts involved in the debate over witnesses in the impeachment trial as Republicans claim they have the votes to block testimony from former national security adviser John Bolton and others.

Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., has said he plans to introduce a motion on Friday that would call for Roberts to rule on subpoenas for witnesses, documents, and questions on executive privilege around the additional information Democrats’ want to bring into the impeachment trial.

“No Republican can question the fairness of this approach- the Chief Justice oversees the highest court in our land and was nominated by a Republican President. And, given his authority to rule on questions of privilege, they should not fear a drawn-out process,” Van Hollen wrote in a statement posted on Twitter.

“I urge my colleagues to seek out the truth and the facts and to vote in support of my motion. Anything else constitutes an effort to hide the truth,” he said.

(Excerpt) Read more at abcnews.go.com ...


TOPICS: Breaking News; Constitution/Conservatism; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: democrats; impeachment; johnroberts; trump; ukraine
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To: CatOwner; All
Important quote from the article regarding tie votes on calling witnesses:

That report [by the Senate Research Service] also says that in the case of a tie vote the chief justice would not be expected to vote, as the vice president or another senator could when they preside, and that any tie vote during an impeachment trial defaults to the negative result.

Van Hollen’s motion would still need a majority vote to change these rules to give the chief justice more authority and avoid the long delays threatened by the president’s legal team.

Thus, it looks like, with Alexander voting against calling any more witnesses, the worst that can happen is a tie that defeats the motion and Roberts will not be able to cast a tie breaking vote.

81 posted on 01/31/2020 6:37:14 AM PST by libstripper (ueeze it into)
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To: LS

It was explained that in the senate the VP would break a tie if the majority would benefit by it. If it is not to the majorities liking it is left at a tie and that means the issue fails. It is up to the majority if they want a tie breaker be it Roberts or the VP. The VP does not get a vote in impeachment at all because although president of the senate by title, he is not a senator.


82 posted on 01/31/2020 6:38:48 AM PST by pnut22
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

I hope this guy remembers his excuse for keeping Obozocare - that he didn’t want to get involved in politics. Everyone knows that this sham is nothing more than that - politics.


83 posted on 01/31/2020 6:39:51 AM PST by NohSpinZone (First thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers)
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To: libstripper; All

Correction:

When I referred to a report by the “Senate Research Service” I should have referred to the “Congressional Research Service.”


84 posted on 01/31/2020 6:41:41 AM PST by libstripper (ueeze it into)
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To: OrioleFan
I still wonder how the Rats got Roberts to rule in their favor on Obamacare...


It is the same model that the democrats use to defeat each and every element of our democracy. They count the votes, then intimidate, threaten or harass the remaining obstacle. Judge Roberts went through some shenanigans to adopt his children. Dems could have split up his family had he bucked them. Maybe even more skeletons.

Roberts surely went through a bunch of hoops to get Obamacare passed.

85 posted on 01/31/2020 6:42:29 AM PST by The_Media_never_lie (Please, oh pretty please let Crazy Uncle Joe Biden be the nominee.)
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To: All

The presiding judge does not run the Senate. The Senate runs the Senate.

More illiberal judicial activism and judicial legislation and judicial supremacy. Unfortunately, _Justice_ Roberts would love to dance; he’s a monster with smiling faces. Once made a decision that ACA is constitutional; _and_ that the penalties were a tax.

Most all DC law is upside-down; most all of its activities are treasonous, i.e., in violation of the Supreme Law.


86 posted on 01/31/2020 6:43:03 AM PST by veracious (UN=OIC=Islam; USgov may be radically changed, just amend USConstitution)
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To: shelterguy

I will take a cup of liberal tears, overflowing with their agony of perv commie dreams dashed, oh the inhumanity, dems cannot push their way in the door like a trans camels nose under the tent, in the name of fairness and legality, kick nads and shif$ in the sak, dump on street to cry with the masses and use the steamroller to clean em off the streets, maybe make a new soylet movie, soylet red, a bi product of commie cali...as we laugh


87 posted on 01/31/2020 6:44:58 AM PST by aces (and)
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To: LS

While not a senate rule, I think this is what will happen:

Congressional Research Service: “The Chief Justice, when presiding over an impeachment trial, would not be expected to vote, even in the case of a tie. If a vote on a question results in a tie, the question is decided in the negative.”


88 posted on 01/31/2020 6:45:36 AM PST by sonofagun (Some think my cynicism grows with age. I like to think of it as wisdom!)
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To: SgtHooper

That’s the scary thing about it—there is no appeal.


89 posted on 01/31/2020 6:47:53 AM PST by Arkansas Toothpick
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Oh, yes we can find fault with Roberts!


90 posted on 01/31/2020 6:48:35 AM PST by Lopeover (Patriots Fight)
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To: sonofagun

The Senate has ‘plenary power’ over the rules. With that power, the Senate allowed the CJ to cast tie-breaking votes on procedures in the 1868 Johnson impeachment trial.


91 posted on 01/31/2020 6:50:32 AM PST by jjotto (Next week, BOOM!, for sure!)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer
the Chief Justice oversees the highest court in our land and was nominated by a Republican President

... and has very likely been blackmailed over some secret in his life and is now owned by someone on the Soros-Left.

92 posted on 01/31/2020 6:50:39 AM PST by ElkGroveDan (My tagline is in the shop.)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

“”has said he plans to introduce a motion on Friday that would call for Roberts to rule on subpoenas for witnesses, documents, and questions on executive privilege around the additional information Democrats’ want to bring into the impeachment trial.””

Go ahead, you jerk. It will be interesting to see Roberts’ response. If he really wants to see what Roberts’ decision would be, he can attend when the administration takes the whole thing to the USSC. Not only were they counting on the Senate to do their unfinished work for them, now he wants the Chief Justice to HELP them!!!

Or he can see what others reactions will be to his idiot motion when they watch him being dragged down the steps out of the Capitol.


93 posted on 01/31/2020 6:51:20 AM PST by Thank You Rush
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

“Please Justice Roberts, The prosecution case brought to the jury is defective. Be a fair judge and let us fix it after the fact. But no witnesses for the defense unless we approve them Hokay?”


94 posted on 01/31/2020 6:52:26 AM PST by silverleaf (Remember kids: You can vote your way into communism, but you have to shoot your way out!)
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To: tired&retired

“”Was he blackmailed?””

No one better to ask than all the FReepers who have the inside dope - just ask them!


95 posted on 01/31/2020 6:52:59 AM PST by Thank You Rush
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Does McConnell have another vote if necessary?


96 posted on 01/31/2020 6:53:32 AM PST by Raycpa
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To: pnz1

they know they have lost and the cya has begun...they will be pushing Russia, mueller, bimbo eruptions, while the aggressive progressive needs a a good ole andy of mayberry wood shed moment along with half the dem leadership, I still have my grand dads razor strap it still works, I’ll lend it to ya..

now the real cya begins, if the ag indicts folks,,,else they are free to rinse lather and repeat their bs..stop it kill it and barbeque the road kill using some fine American sauce..

from now on everytime shifty and nads speak, just laugh and say, liar go lie to yourself, need a mirror, no one else cares about ya’lls points of view, it blows..and if that is a degradation of any particular sexual preference, go blow again...I have the right, given by God to disagree with all mankind, don’t care what they think,I fear God,let the dead bury their dead, they just let em rot on the street in San Fran..why not let the birds feast..so progressively medieval..


97 posted on 01/31/2020 6:58:30 AM PST by aces (and)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Collusion


98 posted on 01/31/2020 7:03:11 AM PST by a fool in paradise (We need a tax to stamp out Communism- If you espouse Marxism weÂ’ll redistribute all of your money.)
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To: tired&retired
Robert’s has some “splainin” to do.

Don't hold your breath waiting for that answer. Roberts is going to carry that secret to his grave.

99 posted on 01/31/2020 7:04:03 AM PST by Windflier (Torches and pitchforks ripen on the vine. Left too long, they become black rifles.)
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To: shelterguy

It is Friday. They can get drunk early today and haz a sad.


100 posted on 01/31/2020 7:05:21 AM PST by a fool in paradise (We need a tax to stamp out Communism- If you espouse Marxism weÂ’ll redistribute all of your money.)
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