Details of The Impeachment Trial
The US House of Representatives Impeachment Managers delivered the long-awaited Articles of
Impeachment against President Donald J. Trump to the US Senate today.
The Articles, on Abuse of Power and Contempt of Congress, were approved by the House on December 18, 2019, making Trump the third President in US History to be impeached by the US House.
Under Article 1, Section 3, Clause 6 of the US Constitution, the US Senate has "the sole Power to try all Impeachments." If the Senate, by a two-thirds vote, convicts Trump then he will be removed from office.
The Trial
In the Senate trail phase House Managers act as prosecutors, the members of the Senate act as jurors, and the President's legal team acts as the defense.
The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, John Roberts, acts as presiding judge during the trial.
The managers, announced today by Speaker Nancy Pelosi, include seven members of the US House who will provide opening and closing statements, present the facts collected by the House investigations, and cross-examine witnesses.
| Of the Managers, Speaker Pelosi said, "The emphasis is on litigators. The emphasis is on comfort level in the courtroom. The emphasis is on making the strongest possible case to protect and defend our Constitution, to seek the truth for the American people." |
The Prosecutors
Congressman Adam Schiff (CA) is the "Lead Manager." As Chairman of the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, Schiff has been a critical player in the investigations and hearings involving the President.
Prior to being to elected to the US House in 2000, he served in the California State Senate and, previously, as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Central District of California.
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| House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is flanked by House Managers (L-R) Hakeem Jefferies, Sylvia Garcia, Jerry Nadler, Adam Schiff, Val Demings, Zoe Lofgren and Jason Crow (Susan Walsh/AP) |
Congressman Jason Crow (CO)
A member of the House Armed Services, Crow was elected to Congress in 2018 after unseating a Republican incumbent. A former Army Ranger, he served three combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan and was awarded the Bronze Star before going onto a career as a private litigator.
Congresswoman Val Demings (FLA)
A member of both the House Intelligence and Judiciary Committees, Demings is in her second term. She previously served as Chief of the Orlando Police Department, the first woman to hold the position.
Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia (TX)
In 2018, Garcia became one of the first two Latina Congresswomen elected from Texas. A member of the House Judiciary Committee, she previously served as Houston City Comptroller, the first woman and hispanic judge elected to the Harris County Commissioner's Court, and as an elected State Senator.
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The Clerk of the House, Sergeant-at-Arms and the House Managers deliver the Articles to the Senate (AFP/Daily Mail)
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Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (NY)
In his fourth term, Jeffries serves on the House Judiciary Committee and as Chair of the House Democratic Caucus. A corporate lawyer and litigator by profession, he was also an elected New York State Assemblyman.
Congresswoman Zoe Logren (CA)
This is the third impeachment process for Zoe Lofgren, who served as a Judiciary Committee staffer during preparations for the 1974 impeachment hearings of President Richard Nixon, and as a member of the House Judiciary Committee during President Bill Clinton's impeachment in 1998. A lawyer by trade, she is serving her 13th term in Congress, and is currently the Chair of the House Administration Committee.
Congressman Jerrold Nadler (NY)
Nadler is Chair of the House Judiciary Committee, which crafted the two articles of impeachment against the President and conducted ongoing investigations of Donald Trump. Now in his 15th term, Nadler was a member of the Judiciary Committee during President Bill Clinton's impeachment in 1998, and previously served for 16 years in the New York State Assembly.
The Senate trial will begin next Tuesday with oral arguments from the House Managers and the White House lawyers.
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The Hannity Factor
When George W. Bush prepared to send troops into Iraq, there weren't a lot of questions about what TV networks or talk radio hosts were influencing his decisions. When Barack Obama contemplated military action in Libya, Syria, and other countries, there weren't constant stories about what MSNBC hosts were advising him to do.
But as the US and Iran exchange military blows against each other in Iraq, it's not only possible, but perhaps likely, that what President Trump sees on Fox News is shaping his views and guiding his decisions. Before signing off for the night, Brian Stelter actually texted me, "I just set my alarm clock for 5am ET because 'Fox & Friends,' the president's daily televised briefing, is starting an hour earlier than usual on Wednesday."
The situation is further compounded, of course, by the fact that the White House press secretary has stopped holding formal press briefings. Instead, to get a sense of what the President might be thinking, Americans are left with watching Sean Hannity's show.
On Tuesday night, Lindsey Graham and Kevin McCarthy both appeared on his Fox show, touting that they had spoken to Trump earlier. Graham said Iran's fate was in its hands, warning, "You continue this crap you're going to wake up one day out of the oil business." And McCarthy praised Trump's judgement, telling Hannity, "He'll access the damage and he'll respond accordingly."
Meanwhile, Hannity himself continued to talk about potentially striking three of Iran's oil refineries, something he also mentioned Monday night. (Is someone briefing him?) He added, “[Iran's] hostility will now be met with the full force of the greatest, most advanced, most sophisticated military this world has ever seen."
As NY Mag's Olivia Nuzzi noted on Twitter, "It is actually insane that the American people have to tune into a partisan cable news channel to get anything close to a briefing on the president’s thinking as the nation fumbles toward a war with Iran." THR's Jeremy Barr bluntly stated it like this: "As usual, gotta watch Hannity to find out about war."
The voice absent from Hannity's show
Geraldo Rivera tweeted Tuesday evening, saying he would be appearing on Hannity's show urging Trump to show "restraint." But soon after, Rivera followed up with another tweet: "Never mind Hannity just canceled me." Instead, Hannity stacked his line up with voices like Oliver North, Pete Hegseth, and Dan Bongino...
Source Reliable Sources CNN
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2020 Democratic Calendar
January 14: Seventh Democratic Primary Debate (Des Moines, Iowa)
February 3: Iowa Caucuses
February 7: Eighth Democratic Primary Debate (Manchester, New Hampshire)
February 11: New Hampshire Primaries
February 19: Ninth Democratic Primary Debate (Las Vegas, Nevada)
February 22: Nevada Democratic Caucuses
February 25: Tenth Democratic Primary Debate (Charleston, South Carolina)
February 29: South Carolina Democratic Primary
March: Eleventh Democratic Primary Debate (TBD)
March 3: Super Tuesday! AL, AS, AR, CA, CO, ME, MA, MN, NC, OK, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA & Democrats Abroad
March 10: Idaho, Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi and Washington Primaries, North Dakota Caucus
March 14: Northern Marianas Caucus
March 17: Arizona, Florida, Illinois and Ohio Primaries
March 24: Georgia Primaries
March 29: Puerto Rico Primary
April: Twelfth Democratic Primary Debate (TBD)
April 4: Alaska, Hawaii and Louisiana Primaries, Wyoming County Caucuses
April 7: Wisconsin Primaries
April 28: Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island Primaries
April 28: Special Election in Maryland's 7th Congressional District
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May 2: Guam Caucus, Kansas Primary
May 5: Indiana Primaries
May 12: Nebraska and West Virginia Primaries,
Special Elections in Wisconsin's 7th CD Special Election
May 19: Kentucky and Oregon Primaries
June 2: D.C., Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico and
South Dakota Primaries
June 6: Virgin Islands Caucus
July 13-16: Democratic National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
August 24-27: Republican National Convention in
Charlotte, North Carolina
September 29: First Presidential Debate (Notre Dame, Indiana)
October 7: Vice Presidential Debate (Salt Lake City, Utah)
October 15: Second Presidential Debate (Ann Arbor, Michigan)
October 22: Third Presidential Debate (Nashville, Tennessee)
November 3: 2020 Election Day
January 20, 2021: Adios Trump!
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