Pelosi Demands Fair Senate Trial, Won't Appoint Impeachment Managers Yet

[swag]

Source: Talking Points Memo

By Tierney Sneed

December 18, 2019 9:51 p.m.

Fresh off the floor from the historic House impeachment vote against President Trump. Speaker Nancy Pelosi demanded that the Senate conduct a fair trial and bashed Senate Majority Leader’s promise that he’ll handle it in coordination with the White House. But she wobbled on the question of whether she would hold back transmitting the impeachment articles until the Senate process is clear.

“We have legislation, approved by the Rules Committee, that will enable us to decide how we will send over the articles of impeachment. We cannot name [House impeachment managers] until we see what the process is on the Senate side, and I would hope that that will be soon,” Pelosi said, when she was first asked whether the House still had a role to play in ensuring a fair Senate trial.

Asked several times whether she was considering withholding the articles until the Senate commits to fair trial procedures, Pelosi appeared to dodge the question.

“We’ll decide what that dynamic is,” Pelosi said, gesturing to the committee chairs who joined her for the press conference.

Read more: https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/pelosi-house-impeachment-press-conference

[Nitram]

1. It's called "playing your cards close to your chest." Or vest.

[dweller]

2. that's not wobble, Tierney Sweed

it's Jedi mind mind sweep, you are not privey
seek your bot elsewhere
😑

✌🏼

[Turbineguy]

3. This is a smart play.

Trump will get Senate republicans against him.

[cstanleytech]

4. Will be interested to see how Mitch deals with demands for a fair trial when he has already declared

his intent to act as Trumps defense counsel rather than act impartially like he is supposed to.

[pecosbob]

5. Let donald continue to weave his own noose

I'm sure that ongoing investigations will yield several more impeachable offenses, particularly now that the courts will soon be rulling against his preventing executive branch officials from testifying before Congress.

I would be content with an incoming Dem administration in January and donald in jail after he leaves office...but mark my words, there must be recompense. None of this walking offstage to let revisionists rehabilitate your image crap like cheney and w.

[bucolic_frolic]

6. Yes, a fair trial, and if not we're going to

pick the most opportune moment for the 2020 elections and bash Republicans over the head with it from one end of the continent to another!

I'm lovin' it!

[DeminPennswoods]

7. McConnell's box

This is a tricky tightrope for McConnell to walk, imho. Here's why.

First, he has to contend with Pelosi not being in a hurry to send articles over to the Senate. That means he can't carry out his plan for a quick sham trial that was cooked up, as Pelosi said, in cahoots with the WH.

Second, he has to contend with an infuriated Trump who will remain impeached, but not acquitted as long as Pelosi holds up sending the articles over to the Senate.Trump wants a speedy dismissal or acquittal so he can brag about it 24/7. Trump, you know, the "great deal maker", will be all over McConnell to get a deal done with Schumer/Pelosi no matter what, even if that means accepting Dems' request for witnesses.

Third, he has to contend with the vulnerable/"independent" Rs who want at least the appearance of a fair trial. All Americans know what a fair trial looks like and having opening arguments, then a vote to dismiss or acquit isn't it. That increases the pressure to agree to have at least some witnesses and for the WH to produce documents. But once people start talking under oath and memos/letters/email/texts come out, anything can happen (see Butterfield, Alexander).

Fourth, if McConnell doesn't produce the trial production Trump wants, don't be surprised if Trump turns on McConnell like he did on Sessions. If he does, McConnell's re-election chances could be the worse for it if the Trump cultists turn against him.

Fifth is Rick Wilson's Lincoln Project. Any vulnerable R Senator who goes along with McConnell here can expect ads targeting his or her re-election. Wilson and his colleagues know how to get down and dirty with negative ads and aren't afraid to do it. They know conservative voters, how their minds work and what kind of ads impact them. It will not be pretty for these Senators.

[PRETZEL]

8. Great post, nt

[crickets]

9. Echoing PRETZEL, great post. nt

[JudyM]

10. Perhaps she should hold out until the objects of the subpoenas are produced and the emoluments case

is decided by the Supremes when the weather warms... let them spin until then.

Since McConnell is asserting the House process wasn’t thorough...

[MurrayDelph]

13. And, of course,

a president who is under impeachment should not be invited to present his State of the Union address next month.

[Bayard]

11. Can Dems add additional Articles of Impeachment before sending to Senate?

That would drag this out till summer at least. The Emoluments clause, and witness tampering/intimidation comes to mind.

[dalton99a]

12. There is no rush.

Donald Trump is impeached. Continue the investigations.