McConnell wants to push Trump’s Senate impeachment trial to mid-February

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell proposed to Majority Leader Chuck Schumer that former President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial begin in mid-February and presented the preferred timing in a conference call with fellow Republicans Thursday, according to multiple sources during the call.

McConnell’s proposal includes an agreement to begin Senate work in February so both sides can properly prepare for Trump’s second impeachment trial, according to several people on the call. Schumer could be open to the proposal, giving him more time to confirm President Joe Biden’s Cabinet nominees.

Senator Mike Rounds, who was on call, said he understood that McConnell, R-Ky., Briefed the conference before going to Schumer, DN.Y.

“I think we know we want to make sure that if the Democrats are going to proceed with this impeachment, the president is entitled to due process. And in order to do that, he has to prepare a case, they have to make the rules and so on, so I think it would be very difficult to start before that date, ”said Rounds, RS.D.

Sen. Mike Braun, R-Ind., Also told NBC News he believes the trial could begin in mid-February.

“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 a statement Thursday.” Given the unprecedented speed of the House process, our proposed timeline for the initial stages includes modest and reasonable additional time for both sides to bring together their arguments before the Senate begins to hear them. “

“In this time of strong political passions, Senate Republicans believe it is absolutely imperative that we do not allow a half-baked process to bypass the due process that former President Trump deserves or damage the Senate or the presidency, ”the statement read. .

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., And Schumer answered the question of the timing of the trial to reporters’ question earlier Thursday. Pelosi has not yet indicated when she will send the impeachment article to the Senate, but says “soon”.

“We received Chief McConnell’s proposal to deal only with pre-trial motions late in the afternoon. We’re going to look at it and discuss it with him, ”said Schumer spokesperson Justin Goodman.

When asked if the president would support the postponement of the impeachment trial in February, White House communications director Kate Bedingfield reiterated what Biden had previously said that he would leave it to the leadership of the The Senate is responsible for determining the mechanisms and timing of the trial.

Bedingfield added that Biden wanted the Senate to conduct the impeachment trial in a way that allows them to move forward as quickly as possible with the Covid-19 relief legislation.