"Frankly, it is hard to believe that House Democrats ever really thought this reckless and precedent-breaking process would yield 67 votes," McConnell added.
.@Senatemajldr: "We must vote to reject the House abuse of power. Vote to protect our institutions. Vote to reject new precedents that would reduce the framer's design to rubble…vote to acquit the president of these charges." pic.twitter.com/QMpxH82EkJ
— CSPAN (@cspan) February 4, 2020
.@SenSchumer: "It's a serious charge. The Republicans refused to get the evidence because they were afraid of what it would show. And that's all that needs to be said." pic.twitter.com/i5Tvmf602b
— CSPAN (@cspan) February 4, 2020
In a brief response, Senate Democratic Leader Charles Schumer criticized GOP Senators for rejecting efforts to bring in witnesses to further explore what President Trump sought to achieve by pressing Ukraine to announce investigations related to former Vice President Joe Biden and the 2016 elections.
"This is the first impeachment trial of a President," Schumer said, "that has no witnesses and no documents."
"Why? Because they're afraid of getting to the truth," said Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD).
"There is no exoneration, no vindication, no real acquittal from a fake trial," Van Hollen added.
"No one in this country is above the law - no one - not even the President," said Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI).
Just as in the late stages of the impeachment trial of President Bill Clinton, talk of a resolution of censure emerged in this trial, pressed by Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV), who argued President Trump's "behavior cannot go unchecked by the Senate."
"I do believe a bipartisan majority of this body would vote to censure President Trump," Manchin said on the Senate floor, after observing that there is nowhere near the two-thirds supermajority needed to convict and remove the President from office.
But there was no bipartisan appetite for Manchin's plan.
Sen. Joe Manchin calls for the Senate to "censure" President Trump: "Censure would allow this body to unite across party lines ... his behavior cannot go unchecked by the Senate." https://t.co/5SqfeTQeSY pic.twitter.com/Xo6CXL2fUf
— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) February 3, 2020
Hogan Gidley says @realDonaldTrump won’t accept censure because he’s “Done nothing wrong” pic.twitter.com/8VPFGAoz78
— Brian J. Karem (@BrianKarem) February 4, 2020
Final votes on the two impeachment charges against President Trump are scheduled for 4 pm on Wednesday; between now and then, Senators can be recognized on the Senate floor to debate the charges.
About the Author