It looks like McConnell, who already said he is coordinating with the White House, is prepared to make the Senate trial of President Trump move straight to a vote to acquit.
Mitch McConnell: Everything I do during this, I’m coordinating with White House Counsel. There will be no difference between the President’s position and our position as to how to handle this pic.twitter.com/baFaTKWvUl
— Acyn Torabi (@Acyn) December 13, 2019
What to do?
“Let’s impeach him now and NOT send it to the Senate rather keep investigating in the House, and add such supplemental articles as needed!” John Dean wrote on Twitter this weekend. “Just let it hang over his head. If the worst happens and he is re-elected, send it to the Senate. But keep investigating!!”
Dean is not alone in suggesting this. There’s a growing sense among those who believe that Congress has a duty — both to the American people and to future presidents — to call out high crimes and misdemeanors that impeachment is actually the be-all-and-end-all sanction, considering that a kangaroo court awaits in McConnell’s Senate. Indeed, people with access to Trump say that — while he believes impeachment will help him in the 2020 campaign (and he may be right) — he also sees the looming vote as a huge humiliation. As it should be.
Anyway, Schumer is getting the ball rolling…. In this letter, he tells McConnell that if he rejects these reasonable ground rules and insists on a non-trial, the House should consider treating that as a breach of the Senate’s oath and will consider withholding the Articles until the Senate reconsiders.
Here's Schumer's reaction to @HeidiNBC's question of whether the House should withhold articles of impeachment if the Senate doesn't agree to hold an actual trial. pic.twitter.com/J3rIDkOsxg
— Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) December 16, 2019