WASHINGTON -- Sen. Mitch McConnell's comment this week that the Senate would be forced to "take up" articles of impeachment from the House had the capital in a swirl, bracing for a full-blown Senate trial of President Donald Trump. But as things now stand, any trial would likely be swift
WASHINGTON — Sen. Mitch McConnell’s comment this week that the Senate would be forced to “take up” articles of impeachment from the House had the capital in a swirl, bracing for a full-blown Senate trial of President Donald Trump. But as things now stand, any trial would likely be swift, ending in dismissal of the accusations.
“I don’t think they could just duck it,” said Donald A. Ritchie, historian emeritus of the Senate. “It is a constitutional responsibility. When you look at the weight of history, I think they would feel they have to do something. They would have to decide how abbreviated they wanted to make it.” As the trial threatened to gain steam after the Senate had heard from Republican House managers of the impeachment and Clinton’s defenders, Sen. Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va.,the highly regarded conscience of the Senate who had said the Bible and Constitution would be his guide, moved to dismiss the entire case.
The tactic looms as a delicate proposition for McConnell and his Republican colleagues. First, they must mollify a mercurial president and Republican voters who will no doubt be incensed at the very idea of a Senate trial giving credence to the accusations that Trump improperly sought foreign help against a political rival.
“If the impeachment process reaches the upper chamber, each and every Senate Republican will have the awesome responsibility of putting country over party and ensuring Leader McConnell allows a fair trial,” Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York, the Senate Democratic leader, said in a statement Tuesday. Senate Republican officials say any discussion about how the Senate would proceed beyond McConnell’s statement is pure speculation, with the response dependent on how the House conducts itself and what is ultimately included in any impeachment claim.
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