McConnell won’t agree to reconvene Senate early for impeachment trial

Majority Leader in the Senate Mitch mcconnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellHouse passes measure calling on Pence to remove Trump, GOP house relationship suddenly deteriorates Kinzinger says he will vote to impeach Trump MOREThe office of (R-Ky.) Told the Senate Minority Leader Charles SchumerChuck SchumerWoman Interrupts Schumer’s Press Conference and Calls Schumer ‘Racist Anti-Semite’ Overnight Energy: EPA Rule Exempts Many Polluting Industries From Future Aviation Regulations | Former Michigan Governor Charged With Flint Water Crisis: Report | Officials ousted from the White House after newspapers cast doubt on climate science Senate to be briefed on opening security after Capitol attack READ MORE(DN.Y.) Wednesday staff that the GOP will not agree to reconvene the Senate until Jan. 19 to allow for an impeachment trial during President TrumpDonald Trump Growing number of GOP lawmakers say they support impeachment YouTube temporarily bans uploading new content to Trump House channel passes measure calling on Pence to remove Trump MORE is still in operation.

A senior Republican Senate adviser has confirmed that McConnell’s office has contacted Schumer’s office to deliver the message that Republicans will not agree to a Friday session to allow House Democrats to present an impeachment article to the Senate during that Trump is in office.

McConnell said in a note circulated to colleagues last week that the Senate will not be able to handle business on the floor until senators return to Washington on January 19, unless all 100 senators agree to meet earlier.

The memo said that unless there was unanimous consent from the senators, Trump’s impeachment trial would not be allowed to begin until 1 p.m. on January 20, when Joe bidenJoe Biden Growing number of GOP lawmakers say they support impeachment House passes measure calling on Pence to withdraw Trump Disney, Walmart says they will block donations to lawmakers who opposed Electoral College results will be sworn in as president.

“It would take the consent of 100 senators to conduct business of any kind during the pro forma sessions scheduled before Jan. 19,” the note said.

“The Senate trial would therefore begin after President Trump’s tenure expires – either one hour after its expiration on January 20, or twenty-five hours after its expiration on January 21,” he said.

Schumer disputed that claim on Tuesday and said he and McConnell could agree to reconvene the Senate in emergency session in the coming days.

He says legislation passed in 2004 allows Senate majority and minority leaders to reconvene the Senate at any time to respond to emergencies.

“There was a law passed in 2004 that allows the Senate minority and the majority leader to jointly convene the Senate in an emergency. This is a time of emergency, ”Schumer said.

“I asked him to recall the Senate – all he needs is my consent, I am still the leader of the minority,” he said.