Just five hours after Senate Republicans carefully assembled and passed an impeachment trial framework that could clear Trump by next week, the president delivered an unwanted surprise to the GOP: The prospect of a longer trial with lots of witnesses.
“He has been internally conflicted from the beginning. Because there’s value in getting it over with quickly and getting on with the business of governing,” said Sen. Kevin Cramer . “And for him personally there’s some value in a process that not only acquits him but exonerates him. That’s a legitimate internal conflict.”
Senate Democrats, however, have seen Trump’s vacillation before. From the president’s optimistic talk on everything from enhanced background checks on gun sales to a big bipartisan infrastructure deal, they are used to being left with false hope from Trump. “He waits and sees if there’s a negative public reaction to his position, he announces he’s going to go the other way. And never does,” Durbin said.
Trump has offered various positions on the impeachment proceedings. At the president’s direction, White House officials refused to cooperate at all with the House impeachment inquiry. But back in November, when Speaker Nancy Pelosi suggested that Trump should testify in the House probe, the president suggested he might do it, because he liked the idea and “did nothing wrong.” He revived that idea Wednesday.
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