General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: I am concerned about CJ Roberts not presiding over the impeachment trial. [View all]The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,673 posts)The Constitution and the Senate rules are very clear. Since the conflict of interest inherent in having the VP (the usual presiding officer) manage a trial of himself, or of the president (where the VP would become president if the president being tried is convicted), does not exist where the person on trial is the ex-president, the CJ is not needed. It might have been that they floated the idea to him only so as to avoid accusations of bias. But there's no question that the Constitution and the Senate rules provide that the CJ is the presiding officer where the trial is of a sitting president or vice president. The CJ has been the presiding officer only in three previous impeachment trials, and those were of sitting presidents - Andrew Johnson, Clinton and Trump #1.