Senate considers swift Trump impeachment trial

Senators say historic second impeachment trial for former President TrumpDonald TrumpTwitter Permanently Suspends Account of Gateway Founder Pundit Republican Party of Wyoming Censors Cheney for Trump Impeachment Vote Trump’s access to intelligence briefings will be determined by officials, says White House: report MORE could last a few days, in what looks to be a quick process.

Majority Leader in the Senate Charles SchumerChuck Schumer More than 60 progressive groups urge Schumer to overturn filibuster Booker reintroduces bill to give all newborns, 000 Sanders, Ocasio-Cortez and Blumenauer savings accounts aim to force Biden to declare emergency climate PLUS (DN.Y.) and Minority Leader Mitch mcconnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnell Republicans seek to hit Democrats over reopening of schools GOP blames White House staff for lack of COVID-19 relief deal Memo: Bad Jobs report strengthens case of relaunch Biden PLUS (R-Ky.) Still trying to come to an agreement on how to organize the trial, which is scheduled to start on Tuesday.

But senators are signaling that they want to be done quickly, hinting it could take about a week. Democrats, while saying Trump’s trial is necessary, are also focusing their political energy on coronavirus relief.

“I just can’t imagine it’s going to go beyond a week,” Sen said. Kevin cramerKevin John CramerGOP Blames White House Staff For Lack Of COVID-19 Relief Deal Little-known Senate Arbitrator to Play Major Role in Biden’s Relief Plan OMB Candidate to Be Heard on February 9 MORE (RN.D.). “I don’t think there is much enthusiasm for this thing from anyone.

His. Chris MurphyChristopher (Chris) Scott MurphySunday shows preview: Budget Resolution Paves the Way for $ 900 Billion Stimulus; Senate Prepares For Impeachment Trial Five Things To Know About Biden’s Decision In Yemen Why School Nurses Are Vital To Ending The School-To-Prison Pipeline READ MORE (D-Conn.), Asked about his own preference for the length of the trial, said, “I don’t think this has to last more than a week.”

“A few days for each camp would be enough,” he added.

His. Tom carperThomas (Tom) Richard Carper Five takeaways from the budget marathon Senate appoints first black secretary to Senate 12:30 p.m. report from the Hill – Brought to you by Facebook – White House targets climate change in executive orders today READ MORE (D-Del.), A close ally of President Biden, said the trial is expected to last “days.”

“The trial shouldn’t last for months or weeks. Days. Days. And then we can put the team back in place for this administration, ”Carper told reporters.

The deal McConnell and Schumer sought would set a timeline for the first phase of the trial that would include preliminary arguments from House impeachment officials and Trump attorneys.

If the Senate does not vote to call witnesses, then the trial could quickly end with possible motions from senators, deliberations on the charges, closing arguments, then a vote on whether to convict Trump of serious crimes and of misdemeanors.

House impeachment officials invited Trump to testify, a request denied by his lawyers. Democrats have yet to say whether they will ask to call additional witnesses.

Trump’s first trial lasted 21 days – marking the shortest presidential impeachment trial at the time. The trial of then-President Clinton lasted 37 days and the trial of President Johnson in 1868 lasted 83 days.

Structurally, the next try will be different, which could allow it to be accelerated. The Senate has already been sworn in as a jury and Sen. Patrick leahyPatrick Joseph LeahyHarris Throws Decisive First Votes As Senate Vice President Appoints Senate First Black Secretary Democrats Propose Resolution Denouncing White Supremacists Ahead of Trump’s Trial MORE (D-Vt.) Sworn in as president.

Republicans also cast a vote on the trial – on whether or not it was constitutional – although GOP senators have warned they could force a similar vote against once the trial is underway.

And while attempts by Republicans to delay the trial could take days of extra time at the start of Biden’s presidency, key caucus members would prefer to simply end the trial.

“What we’re hearing is that the Dems, at least the base Dems, are saying they don’t want to drag things along. Most of them want to work on other things. … So it seems that both sides are interested in a shorter trial, ”Sen. John ThuneJohn Randolph ThuneHouse Votes To Kick Greene Out Of Committees On Adopting Conspiracy Theories Republicans Seek To Play Offense In Vote-A-Rama Hill’s Morning Report – Brought to you by Facebook – Cheney Retains Leadership; Dems to punish Greene PLUS (SD), Republican No. 2 Senator, told The Hill, wondering if this wraps up the first weekend after the trial begins.

A senior GOP senator predicted that the trial could be done as early as Friday or Saturday because “that’s what both sides probably want to do.”

Under the rule package for Trump’s 2020 impeachment trial, both sides had 24 hours that could be spread over three days to present their case. Senators then had two days to ask questions.

McConnell, then the majority leader, initially planned to give both sides two days for opening arguments, but ultimately backed down after bipartisan yells. If House impeachment officials or Trump’s legal team had wanted to use their full time, it could have resulted in 12-hour sessions.

If the Senate enforces the same deal for Trump’s second trial, it would ensure it will last at least eight days, with House impeachment officials absent, the former president’s legal team, or senators absent. themselves ceding time.

But the senators are also entering largely unknown territory as they prepare to hold a second impeachment trial against Trump, the first president to go through the process twice. It will also be the first time that a trial has taken place for a former president and the first time that the chief justice will not preside over the presidential impeachment process.

The lone impeachment article against Trump also largely cites public events, including the president’s speech on January 6 when he urged his supporters to march to Capitol Hill, where then-Vice President Pence and the Members of Congress reckoned victory for Biden’s constituency.

Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) Told CNN the trial will be brief due to the straightforward narrative.

“It will be a short trial. It will be an open and closed and fairly straightforward body of evidence made up of what he said in his tweets before inviting and imploring these people to come to Capitol Hill, ”Blumenthal said.

It’s a change from 2020, when the articles were about complex foreign policy, a long list of actors, and the need to familiarize lawmakers and the American people with a largely unknown and complicated scenario.

“This is a fairly small set of facts. This is a restricted article. … We are not voting to remove a presidential post, so I’m not sure any other precedents from past trials hold, ”Murphy said.

Cramer, when asked about the precedents, said he didn’t think a lot of time was needed, adding, “I don’t know why it would take so long.”

Another motivator for a speedy trial threatens lawmakers: the weeklong break for Presidents’ Day. It’s the first break for the Senate in 2021 and comes just before the chamber is expected to move at a lightning pace to try to get a coronavirus package to Biden’s office before federal unemployment benefits expire in mid -March.

“I think I think supporting him during the Presidents Day break is a reason to achieve that, and I think it will probably be a motivator for both sides,” Thune said.

His. Tim kaineTimothy (Tim) Michael KaineOn The Money: Biden Reports He Will Go Forward With COVID-19 Relief Without GOP | Economy adds 49K jobs in January | Minimum wage push sparks democratic divisions Minimum wage push sparks democratic divisions Senators examine Boston Mayor Walsh for Secretary of Labor (D-Va.) Said the Senate could sit for part, but not all, of the recess, which would still put the trial within the one-week deadline since the trial began on Tuesday.

“Looks like both sides want this to be reasonably short,” Kaine said. “So they think we could get into recess a little bit.”