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Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is proposing Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to postpone the start of former President Trump’s impeachment trial until February, several sources familiar with the plan told CBS News. McConnell confirmed his proposal in a statement later Thursday.
This timetable would give those responsible for impeaching and defending Mr. Trump at least a week to prepare. McConnell pitched the proposal to GOP senators during a caucus conference call Thursday. McConnell, now in the minority, does not have the final say on when a trial will take place. Schumer would have to accept the proposal. The house has not yet sent the single indictment article for incitement to insurgency in the Senate.
Schumer is reviewing the proposal.
“We received the proposal from Chief McConnell which deals only with preliminary motions at the end of the afternoon. We will review it and discuss it with him,” a spokesperson for Schumer said Thursday.
According to McConnell’s proposed timeline, House impeachment managers would read the article in the Senate and senators would be sworn in in the impeachment court on January 28, a Thursday. From that day on, Mr. Trump would have one week to respond to the article and the House pre-trial brief would be due, i.e. February 4. Mr. Trump would then have one week from the time he submits his response to also submit his pre-trial brief, that is, February 11. The Chamber would have two days after that (February 13) to present its pre-trial rebuttal brief.
“Senate Republicans are firmly united behind the principle that the institution of the Senate, the office of the President and former President Trump himself all deserve a full and fair process that respects his rights and serious factual issues, legal and constitutional at stake. ”McConnell said in his statement.“ Given the unprecedented speed of the House process, our proposed timeline for the initial stages includes modest and reasonable additional time for both parties to bring their interests together. arguments before the Senate begins to hear them. “
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham welcomed McConnell’s proposal to postpone the trial to February and said he met McConnell on Thursday.
“We looked at the pre-trial periods. The difference is that there was really no input to the Chamber, it was an instant arraignment. But when you look at the time periods involved, it’s very similar to what we have done in the past, ”Graham told reporters.
Graham has confirmed that attorney Butch Bowers is joining Trump’s legal team as a “prime tenant.” Graham praised Butcher as a “solid guy”. The South Carolina senator said he was unsure whether Mr. Trump would attend the trial, but recommended not to do so.
“The president can’t wait to put this behind him,” Graham said. “He thinks it’s unconstitutional and hurts his presidency, but you know he’s going to ‘spend his day in court and that’s how the system works.”
The House impeached Mr. Trump last week, Jan. 13, with 10 Republicans joining the Democrats.
Senators are currently expected to work from their states during the week of February 15 for Presidents’ Day, which could complicate the schedule.
For now, the Senate is also working to confirm President Joe Biden’s candidates. Democratic Senator Chris Coons told CNN on Thursday that Democrats might be open to a slight delay in the trial if there is progress in confirming the nominees.
“I think Democrats will be prepared to consider a deadline that gives former President Trump time to assemble his legal and defense team for the impeachment trial if we move forward to confirm the very talented, seasoned and diverse team that President Joe Biden has appointed to serve in his cabinet, ”Coons said.
McConnell has not publicly stated whether he supported or opposed the impeachment, although he did say the mob that attacked the Capitol was “provoked by the president”.
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