Pelosi and McConnell Square Off
The impeachment saga continues even after congress voted to impeach President Donald J. Trump. In a news conference held by Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi late Wednesday night, Speaker Pelosi was reluctant to announce when, if ever, she will turn over the articles of impeachment to the US Senate for trial. Speaker Pelosi stated that she will submit the articles of impeachment once the senate announces the procedures it will follow including whether or not they will allow for additional testimony from key witnesses. Speaker Pelosi stated that she cannot assign managers until the senate provides such information. In doing so, Speaker Pelosi is setting the stage for what will become a long and drawn out battle between Congress and the Senate. Critics argue that such a position can have pros and cons for both Congress and the Senate.
On Thursday morning Speaker Pelosi reiterated her concerns over the senate’s capability to conduct a fair trial pointing out that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is already colluding with President Trump by working with Trump’s attorneys and by Senator McConnell’s own statements that the senate will not call upon key witnesses to testify in the trial.
Some constitutional legal experts warn that by delaying a trial, Congress will effectively lose credibility of its conviction to see this impeachment through to removal of office. However, Speaker Pelosi may be playing her ace card. In delaying a senate trial, which Senator McConnell vowed would be quick, she is keeping the impeachment relevant in the minds of voters as we approach the 2020 elections. It also buys time for the courts to decide whether key witnesses will be required to testify, all in the hopes that such testimony comes about prior to a senate vote.
For senate republicans, this presents a conundrum and a level of uncertainty that this isn’t going away anytime soon. In a seemingly defiant response, Senator McConnell stated that he is unclear as to the Democrats strategy to delay the submission of the articles of impeachment because it is not something that he is asking for, but rather it is something the Democrats rushed to have done.
As for President Trump, even as the votes were still being counted, he was quick to downplay the severity of the impeachment during a rally in Michigan, a position he has held over recent weeks. He praised republicans for their loyalty and criticized Congresswoman Debbie Dingell of Michigan for voting for impeachment even after he reportedly stated to have offered her the use of the “Rotunda” at the U.S. Capital for the late congressman to lie in state, although the authority to do so lies with Congress, not the president. One late night talk show host, Jimmy Kimmel, pointed out during his monologue Thursday evening that the president was disappointed over her vote to impeachment even after his offer to use the Rotunda and the order to fly the American flags at half staff, suggesting this itself to be another quid pro quo expectation of the president.
In the same breath, President Trump is also receiving backlash from both sides of the isle for making an inappropriate off-color remark suggesting that the late Congressman Dingell may be in hell. Trump stated, “She called me up and said it was the nicest thing. John would be so thrilled, he’s looking down he’d be so thrilled, thank you sir.” Trump then abruptly said to the crowd of supporters, “Maybe he’s looking up, I don’t know. Let’s assume he’s looking down.” Congresswoman Dingell denies having called President Trump and having such a conversation with him.
It is unclear when, if at all, Speaker Pelosi will submit the articles of impeachment to the Senate. The pressure to end impeachment drama before the elections may sway the senate to make concessions if the courts don’t decide before then. Either way, the stakes are high as Speaker Pelosi looks to double down. For now, Senator McConnell appears to be calling her bluff.
