Schumer: I Will Demand Vote In Senate Trial For My Witnesses

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Come on, manChuck Schumer’s been in Congress long enough to know what being in the minority means, especially because Schumer helped engineer the defenestration of minority rights in the Senate. Still, Schumer still thinks he can split the Republican majority and get Mitch McConnell to do what his own Democratic colleagues in the House refused to do — go to court to get four Trump administration officials to testify.



“Many of my Republican colleagues,” Schumer told MSNBC’s Chris Hayes, “will be in a real dilemma, because their constituents will want them to do that.” Er … has Schumer seen how impeachment has been polling, especially among Republican “constituents”?

“I am allowed, even though 51 votes governs, I am allowed to ask for votes. I will ask during the impeachment proceeding for a vote on whether Mulvaney should testify, and whether Bolton should testify,” the New York Democrat said in an interview with MSNBC’s Chris Hayes.

“Many of my Republican colleagues will be in a real dilemma because their constituents will want them to do that, they will have no good reason not to, and they can well be held accountable for doing that.” …

“Asking for witnesses, something so reasonable and supported by 64% of Republicans is — I expect we will get a bunch of Republicans to vote with us on these requests, I do, I do.”

Would that be 64% of all Republicans, or only 64% of the 10% that support impeachment? How about 64% of the handful that think impeachment is actually a high priority for Congress, or themselves? Senate Republicans know what their constituents think, and it’s not Gee you should follow Chuck Schumer’s leadership.

This is all bluster and no substance. Schumer’s stuck with an incomplete impeachment that has no chance of selling in the Senate, not even to all of the Senate Democrats. Republicans have closed ranks in large part because of the rushed and bitterly partisan process on display in the House Intelligence Committee hearings, and last week’s stunt by Jerrold Nadler in Judiciary didn’t help matters either.

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The Senate needs to bully the Dems, as they bullied the GOP in the House. It only seems fair.

Chucky Sleaze is at it again on his soap box yammering out his usial load of poppycock just all we have to do is give him a high pitched squeaky voice you cant understand like you hear when a tape recorder is rewound

Schumer wants extra-equal consideration in the Senate after he supported the Democrat majority throwing all ethics, precedent, convention and justice out the window and railroading impeachment based on opinion, presumption and rumor. Schiff had to LIE in his opening to kick off what would be an entire proceeding based on lies.

The only thing the Democrats are getting out of this is the seemingly unlimited opportunity to stand up and repeat the same lie over and over, Goebbels- style. Schumer wants to keep this lie-a-thon rolling in the Senate.

Like with demanding Trump release the transcript, like Schiff insisting the “whistle blower” be allowed to testify, Schumer “demanding” witnesses is bluff that should be called. The LAST thing any Democrat wants is for witnesses with knowledge of Ukrainian corruption and Democrats’ involvement there to be openly discussed.

@Spurwing Plover: Schumer always has a mouthful of poppycock.

Watching the House ram rod this crap through the house its a good thing I cant have any lower opinion of these communist democrats.

If Senate republicans are going to break oaths and endorse and enable Trump’s blatant misuse of power to obstruct Congress and prevent testimony from being heard concerning his own misconduct, it’s only fitting that they proudly do so with individual recorded votes. Then they can be reminded what they did as the election approaches, after voters have had another year to observe Donald Trump.

The Senate is where this entirely legitimate and completely necessary constitutional process will be turned into a shameful betrayal of the Constitution and the American people.

@Greg:

Yet you are fine with the Lower House violating House rules in order to push their agenda through. An agenda that begun even before Donald J. Trump was inaugurated. No one who is honest can claim this impeachment hinges on a phone call from July 25, 2019 when impeachment motions were made in the House long prior to that call.

@retire05, #6:

What rules were violated, other than those that exist only in the imagination? Trump claimed in his letter to Pelosi that the process is invalid because no vote was taken to conduct the preliminary investigation. There is no such requirement. Republicans have claimed he had no opportunity to have his own side heard in the House. He not only refused the the invitation to have his counsel participate in the hearing, but improperly ordered 13 witnesses who could allegedly have substantiated his claims of no wrongdoing to ignore lawful congressional subpoenas—and all indications are that republicans will prevent any of these witnesses from testifying in the Senate trial.

No one who is honest can claim this impeachment hinges on a phone call from July 25, 2019 when impeachment motions were made in the House long prior to that call.

This is hardly the first episode of Trump’s bullshit, is it? The House has simply decided to limit the scope of the impeachment investigation and Articles to the two most egregious and obvious offenses. Regarding those two, there are actually federal criminal offenses involved. They’re not making charges per specific statutes because it has already been determined that a sitting president can’t be charged with any federal offense. Only Congress can restrain this man, and Senate republicans are about to hand him complete immunity from that, without even hearing from those having direct inside knowledge of the situation.

Federal Criminal Offenses and the Impeachment of Donald J. Trump

@Greg:

haveing read your posts over the years-you are a true communist.

Many Trump supporters think anyone who doesn’t don a MAGA hat and worshipfully kiss Trump’s ever-expanding posterior is a communist.

@Greg:

Well, Comrade Greggie, being the legal eagle you are, you should know that the USSC just nullified Article II of the impeachment being brought against President Trump.

I might agree with you on impeachment had Donald J. Trump murdered American citizens on foreign soil, left SOS personnel to be murdered on foreign soil, and ask a quid pro quo for time so that he could be more “flexible” with an adverse foreign leader.

But Donald J. Trump did none of those things yet you were in total support of the person who did. You have no moral high ground on this president since you willingly supported the previous president who really did trample our Constitution.

@Greg: Since your view is that the rules are what the majority make them to be, as the Democrats did in the House, why do you have a problem with McConnell making the rules in the Senate and Democrats abiding by them?

@retire05, #10:

Well, Comrade Greggie, being the legal eagle you are, you should know that the USSC just nullified Article II of the impeachment being brought against President Trump.

You’d better check to see if your Pocket Constitution was printed in China.

@Deplorable Me, #11:

Because he has publicly announced he will be breaking the Senate Oath of Affirmation, which all are required to take in connection with all things relating to the Senate impeachment trial:

“I solemnly swear [or affirm, as the case may be] that in all things appertaining to the trial of the impeachment of Donald John Trump, now pending, I will do impartial justice according to the Constitution and laws: So help me God.”

The Senate Majority Leader has renounced impartiality, publicly stating that he will conduct the trial in accordance with the instructions of the White House Counsel, and that he will be in total alignment with the President straight down the line. There will be no impartial justice done—to the extent that witnesses who have direct, first hand knowledge of the truth but defied lawful House subpoenas at Trump’s command will not be called to testify at the actual trial. He’s going to give Trump a pass on obvious Abuse of Power and Obstruction of Congress—the very things he’s being impeached for.

Republicans are about to give us a president who can’t be criminally prosecuted for anything, and won’t be subject to constitutional oversight by Congress, either. He’ll be able to do whatever he wants to win the 2020 election.

@Greg: @Greg:

You’d better check to see if your Pocket Constitution was printed in China.

You can ask that question of the Smithsonian in D.C. That is where I bought it.

Of course, you offer no rebuttal to the fact that the USSC just nullified Article II of the impeachment.

Do they not teach the Constitution at your Commie meetings?

@retire05: See how desperate they are, they have no crime, no evidence, no candidate. Desperate to cover up the crimes that were committed by the previous administration in Ukraine, and where that money trail may also lead to.
Its Trump 2020

@Greg: Actions, not what you believe, is what is judged. Democrats rejected all pretenses of impartiality and even any intent to respect the Constitution. The Constitution never intended for impeachment to be a penalty for opinion and that is ALL the Democrats have; opinion and hurt feelings. So, spare me. You support power by any means at any cost.

I asked you before but, as usual, you avoid answering a question you can’t answer that supports your ideology. What has Trump said he wants in the Senate hearings? The articles of impeachment from the Democrats is a wish list. There has been NO abuse of power but by Democrats… and they should be punished severely for it. Just defeating them in elections is not sufficient.

@kitt: All Democrats have is a majority in the House and, as Greg shows, they don’t like that Republicans have the majority in the Senate. They also don’t understand the horrible precedent they have set; they should have consulted Harry Reid. He could have told them about doing something stupid that takes a big bite out of their asses later.

@retire05, #14:

Of course, you offer no rebuttal to the fact that the USSC just nullified Article II of the impeachment.

That’s because there’s no need to rebut nonsense.

It’s clear from McConnell’s statement that the fix is in. The Affirmation Oath sworn before God to render impartial justice means nothing. So, Schumer is going to make sure every republican Senator who obediently votes against subpoenaing witnesses who could reveal exactly what happened will go on record.

That seems entirely proper to me. If you’re going to row for this skunk, you can chain yourself to the rowing bench. If he ultimately goes down, you go down with him.

@Greg:


Of course, you offer no rebuttal to the fact that the USSC just nullified Article II of the impeachment.

That’s because there’s no need to rebut nonsense.

Obviously you are not the legal eagle you pretend to be. Obstruction of Congress? Really? If that is an impeachable offense, why wasn’t Obama impeached when he “obstructed” Congress in the very same way you claim Trump did when the Fast and Furious hearings were being conducted?

The Dems had the right to seek judicial review in the President’s refusal of honoring subpoenas, claiming Executive Privilege, and asking the court to compel those subpoenas. The Dems didn’t do that. Instead, they came up with a new bench mark; if a President claims Executive Privilege the Congress will now consider that obstruction of Congress.

You see, Comrade Greggie; our nation has a government of three branches, not two. The third branch settles the disputes between the other two. But Nancy Pelosi and her henchmen don’t care about things like the three branches. They only care about power. And you are too damn stupid to understand that very power the Dems are claiming will destroy your own freedoms.

@Greg: When one party impeaches the President of the other party without evidence of any crime, tramples any semblance of fairness, justice, Constitutionality and absolutely no regard for the health, wealth and security of this country, then impartiality is sort of a moot point. Not that how you characterize what McConnell will do in the Senate is anywhere near the truth, but you’ve allowed Schiff to flush any expectation of anything but like treatment right down into the cesspool. You will get what Schiff established as “fair”. Don’t like it? Take it up with Schiff.

I’ve been listening to House republicans whining about “no republican witnesses” off and on all day. Hey, 13 republican witnesses defied lawful subpoenas at Trump’s order and didn’t show up to testify, and McConnell is going to make damn sure they aren’t heard in the Senate, either.

They’re lying to the American people, just like Trump is lying to the American people. Do you like being lied to?

We’ll take that question up again in 2020.

@retire05, #20:

Obviously you are not the legal eagle you pretend to be.

Obviously you’re unable to post a link to anything whatsoever that supports your ridiculous claim. I think FOX News would be all over that by now, if it weren’t something you seem to have hallucinated.

@Greg: And we read you whining about McConnell not ceding leadership in the Senate to the lying Epstein buddy Schumer. The problem is, the Republicans have a legitimate complaint regarding lying, corrupt Schiff denying equal representation for Republicans, but yours and Schumer’s whining is just… whining. Like you’ve been whining ever since the drunken, corrupt, lying criminal Hillary lost her election that was supposed to be a rigged set up for her to win.

McConnell’s basic constitutional duty is laid out in the Affirmation Oath he is going to take, and then break. The point of a Senate Impeachment Trial is to hear all relevant testimony and evidence, and then make a fair and impartial judgement.

McConnell has openly stated he’s going to do the bidding of the White House Counsel, that his opinion is in total alignment with the man being investigated, and that there’s no way Trump will be impeached.

McConnell is aiding and abetting. He frickin’ admits it. Graham says he won’t even pretend to be an impartial juror.

Law breakers and oath breakers. That’s what the GOP will become, and Donald Trump is leading them there. Hey, but they’ve still got their self-righteous, true patriot, holier-than-thou act going.

Did Trump coin a new name for the GOP? I believe I saw him call it The United Republican Party a couple of times. What’s next? Maybe the United States of Trump.

@Deplorable Me, #24:

Like you’ve been whining ever since the drunken, corrupt, lying criminal Hillary lost her election that was supposed to be a rigged set up for her to win.

Has anybody explained to you that if Trump were removed from office, Pence would be President, not Hillary Clinton? You can have retire05 check on that using her Pocket Constitution.

@Greg: But I voted for Trump and he should not be removed from office on a spoiled brat Democrat whim. McConnell has a Constitutional duty to defend the Constitution and it is under assault from the Democrats.

@Greg:

Hey, 13 republican witnesses defied lawful subpoenas at Trump’s order and didn’t show up to testify, and McConnell is going to make damn sure they aren’t heard in the Senate, either.

Then why did the Democrats not go to court to enforce those subpoenas?

The point of a Senate Impeachment Trial is to hear all relevant testimony and evidence, and then make a fair and impartial judgement.

And who were the people called to testify in the impeachment trial of William Jefferson Clinton? Name them.

Our republic is being murdered today by the Democrats and you are cheering them on. If you have your way, the Democrats will institute a Socialist government before we ever get to election day in November 2020. We are entering a phase of a cold civil war due to the power hungry Democrats. I pray to God that cold civil war never goes physical. It well may.

@Greg:

Maybe the United States of Trump.

I’m rather sure Hitler threw around such fearmongering as to get people moving in droves…like your dear antifa and assorted harassers of non-Democrats.

The point of a Senate Impeachment Trial is to hear all relevant testimony and evidence, and then make a fair and impartial judgement.

That would be fine if the House hearing wasn’t a one-sided hit job. The Republicans are classier, already stating there will be NO witnesses from Dems or Reps, so that they can make a fair and impartial decision on the House’s investigation.

That’s beyond fair.

Dems can’t be trusted not to manufacture new witnesses – denied.
Trump and Reps can’t be trusted not to make this impeachment about the Bidens – denied.

Right now, I’m rather impressed with Graham et al and their ability to handle this correctly.

Trump will be acquitted in the Senate, as he should be.

@retire05, #28:

Then why did the Democrats not go to court to enforce those subpoenas?

Because Trump’s lawyers would put that in the queue with all of the other things he’s got tied up in court, and we’d be lucky to get a final ruling before the next election.

And who were the people called to testify in the impeachment trial of William Jefferson Clinton? Name them.

Well, the same witnesses who defied subpoenas during the House hearings at the order of President Clinton and consequently gave no sworn testimony. Which would be nobody, because Clinton did no such thing. They had already appeared, been questioned under oath, and had given sworn testimony.

@Nathan Blue, #29:

That would be fine if the House hearing wasn’t a one-sided hit job.

Things do get a bit one-sided when 13 subpoenaed witnesses who have direct, first-hand knowledge of the matter under investigation refuse to testify, and the President declines to have his legal counsel attend.

Are you all just pretending to be stupid, or can you really not figure so blatant a maneuver out? I’m beginning to think it’s six of one and half-a-dozen of the other.

@Greg:

Then why did the Democrats not go to court to enforce those subpoenas?

Because Trump’s lawyers would put that in the queue with all of the other things he’s got tied up in court, and we’d be lucky to get a final ruling before the next election.

And who were the people called to testify in the impeachment trial of William Jefferson Clinton? Name them.

Well, the same witnesses who defied subpoenas during the House hearings at the order of President Clinton and consequently gave no sworn testimony. Which would be nobody, because Clinton did no such thing. They had already appeared, been questioned under oath, and had given sworn testimony.

What the hell are you babbling about? Of all the crap posts you have ever put here at FA, that was the dumbest, vague dodge response you have ever posted.

I guess you are totally clueless (as you have proven time after time) about how a court docket is set. And obviously in Commie school, you were not well instructed on the Clinton impeachment.

So educate yourself, idiot. But then, you do love to show was an ignorant piece of work you are.

BTW, moron, the Democrats just lost bigly in the 5th Circuit. BIGLY.

@Greg:

Because Trump’s lawyers would put that in the queue with all of the other things he’s got tied up in court, and we’d be lucky to get a final ruling before the next election.

Well, sorry, Mr. Crybaby, sir, but that’s how it’s done, isn’t it. Remember the travel ban? How about building the wall? Voter ID? Democrats ROUTINELY tie decisions up in the court. Now, when Republicans MIGHT do it, you whine. Whine, whine, whine. “Boo-hoo, Republicans might use the same tactics we use ALL THE TIME. Boo-hoo.”

Things do get a bit one-sided when 13 subpoenaed witnesses who have direct, first-hand knowledge of the matter under investigation refuse to testify, and the President declines to have his legal counsel attend.

Why do you need them? House Democrats say the evidence is irrefutable and uncontested. So, go with it. What are you afraid of?

You keep whining about McConnell taking an oath; well every member of Congress takes and oath and Democrats all pledged to impeach Trump from the time he was elected. Impeachment without legal cause is not impeachment; that’s a coup and THAT is against the oath THEY took to honor and serve the Constitution. So, you can pack THAT crap up your ass along with your DEMANDS on McConnell.

NOW Democrats think they can delay sending their phony articles of impeachment to the Senate. They think they can make McConnell cede his leadership to Schumer. Really? Why would Republicans do that? How do you expect impeachment to be addressed by the Senate and your stupid, infantile fantasy that Trump would be removed from office if you don’t send the articles to the Senate? McConnell will simply tell the idiot Pelosi to stick her impeachment right up her dry, wrinkled ass. That’s where it belongs anyway.

Really, you people are simply pathetic.

@Deplorable Me: To impeach simply means to accuse, what havent they accused Trump of?
CSPAN reported the ultra left wing is asking NP to hold the articles til they can pressure Turtle man for concessions.

@kitt: One wonders why McConnell would be in any kind of a hurry to get their stupid, worthless, contrived articles of impeachment? Please don’t throw me in the brier patch, anyone? These are the same people that DEMANDED the “whistle blower” be allowed to testify… until it came time to testify. These whiny, spoiled, sore loser crybabies just like to thump their chests and demand things.

@Deplorable Me, #33:

What the hell are you babbling about? Of all the crap posts you have ever put here at FA, that was the dumbest, vague dodge response you have ever posted.

I’m just point out that you have no problem saying things that simply are not true. Had the 13 witnesses that defied House subpoenas come forwarded and given sworn testimony, there wouldn’t be any need for them do so again in the Senate. But they didn’t. Trump ordered them not to show up. You know, because he didn’t want them to establish how totally innocent he is, or some such.

Clinton didn’t do anything of the sort. Nobody defied a House subpoena.

Where’s that link about Article 2 being struck down?

@Greg: They are both going down in the Senate the Dems just made fools of themselves.

@Greg:

. Had the 13 witnesses that defied House subpoenas come forwarded and given sworn testimony, there wouldn’t be any need for them do so again in the Senate. But they didn’t. Trump ordered them not to show up. You know, because he didn’t want them to establish how totally innocent he is, or some such.

Judas Priest you are stupid.

The House refused to allow agency lawyers to attend the hearings with the subpoenaed witnesses. THAT is why Trump exercised his Executive Privilege.

Clinton didn’t do anything of the sort. Nobody defied a House subpoena.

Crikey man, how damn dumb can you get? There were NO subpoenas. The House worked off the Starr report. They called no witnesses in the Clinton impeachment.

Where’s that like about Article 2 being struck down?

If you don’t understand the actions of the USSC, then that’s your problem. I thought you were such a legal eagle and knew everything. Now you just proved that all you know is what you read on left wing websites like the despicable LawFare blog. Too bad LawFare has proven itself to be wrong, wrong, wrong and nothing but a bunch of political hack lawyers who hate that Donald J. Trump won the election of 2016.

@Greg: Why don’t YOU figure out who you are talking to? You are so frazzled and discombobulated by the Democrat’s idiotic antics you can’t even direct your whining at the proper person.

Don’t worry. I’ll protect you. That’s why I do all the things I do. It’s all for you.

@Greg: You think your refusal to address questions fools people. It doesn’t. It demonstrates clearly that you are fully aware of the duplicity and corruption of your Democrats but you think ignoring the questions simply makes them go away.

You expect Democrats to have all the advantages because on a level playing field, Democrats LOSE. The American people don’t want what they are peddling any more, so they have to LIE and abuse the law and Constitution to desperately try to make the Republicans appear to be worse garbage than they themselves are. That’s not working, either.

Now Pelosi is simply afraid to hand the articles of impeachment over to the Senate because they no longer control all the rules and cannot suppress the truth any more. Damn, what scurrilous trash.

And YOU support it.

@retire05, #38:

If you don’t understand the actions of the USSC, then that’s your problem. I thought you were such a legal eagle and yada yada yada…

Still no link, I notice.

Now Pelosi is simply afraid to hand the articles of impeachment over to the Senate because they no longer control all the rules and cannot suppress the truth any more. Damn, what scurrilous trash.

McConnell has already publicly announced the outcome of the Senate trial on Sean Hannity’s Fox News propaganda hour. So what’s the hurry?

Maybe McConnell and Trump need to ask her very politely.

Maybe they’re going to file actions against people who defied House subpoenas, and tell McConnell that they have to wait for the outcome to make sure republican witnesses get to have their say in the Senate. Who knows? Maybe she’s just yanking Trump’s chain.

@Greg:

Still no link, I notice.

Too lazy to do your own research? Perhaps LawFare hasn’t written about it yet. I’m sure they will just to take advantage of their twisted logic.

@Greg: You mean like the Democrats all showed the outcome of their impeachment “hearings” by all promoting impeachment for any reason from the time Trump was elected? Or like Pelosi admitted the other day, that they’ve been trying to impeach Trump for two and a half years?

How can Pelosi impeach for quid pro quo when that is what she demands to send her partisan, biased, bogus, prejudiced, no-evidence articles of impeachment to the Senate? I think that’s an abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.

McConnell is going to proceed with the People’s business and ignore the stupid, drunken, lying, corrupt Pelosi. She will be asking Omar what she should do next.

Still no link, I notice.

Ain’t it a pisser when someone refuses to answer your questions?

@Greg: #42 Again the anti logic of your own argument escapes you and the entire left, well guess we will sit here and see if you can figure it out.
“Obstructing Congress” is the only hint you should have.

@Greg:

McConnell has already publicly announced the outcome of the Senate trial on Sean Hannity’s Fox News propaganda hour. So what’s the hurry?

You mean like Pelosi, Schitt-for-brains and Jabba The Hut Nadler didn’t announce the outcome of the impeachment PRIOR to even the very first day of the “hearings”? You always accuse the Republicans of what the Democrats are guilty of. Why is that?

Maybe McConnell and Trump need to ask her very politely.

Maybe he should write Pelosi and inform her she is in obstruction of Congress, which she is consequently McConnell declares the Articles of Impeachment null and void.

Perhaps you’re as full of it up to the gills as your cult leader. A link might be evidence to the contrary.

If Nancy doesn’t sober up and send those articles to the Senate, McConnell can declare the whole circus null and void. Maybe THAT’S how she plans to get out of this quagmire she’s allowed AOC and her fellow socialists made for her.

Democrats are a true embarrassment. You should probably grovel at the feet of someone else.

@Deplorable Me, #49:

Democrats have had the integrity to call Trump out on his egregious misconduct in office, knowing full well it wouldn’t be the best political move and that McConnell would do Trump’s bidding in the Senate. Republicans have sold their party’s soul to the devil. All of their statesmen are gone and their integrity, principles, and patriotism have gone with them. They’ve become The Party of Trump, whose primary skills are self-promotion and bombastic crowd manipulation. The nation needs a president, but its reality television audience has filled the spot with a brand name and swallowed every falsehood and false accomplishment hook, line and sinker. The man is a fraud. He’s a cartoon character. He’s a George Orwell Big Brother poster. Up is down. The grass is blue and the sky is green. Repeat until the crowd believes it.