Senate passes McConnell impeachment rules after nearly 13 hours of debate – By Dareh Gregorian (NBC News) / Jan 22 2020
The organizing resolution was passed on a party line vote after a contentious session that led to a rebuke from Chief Justice John Roberts.
The Senate passed Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s resolution laying out a blueprint for President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial along party lines early Wednesday after a day of back and forth between House prosecutors and attorneys for the White House.
The Republican majority had voted down several amendments proposed by Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., to subpoena documents and call witnesses.
The vote came just before 2 a.m. Wednesday after Rep. Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., one of the House impeachment managers, suggested that senators were voting for a “cover-up,” which drew sharp responses from the president’s legal counsel.
Chief Justice John Roberts admonished House managers and Trump’s counsel “in equal terms to remember that they are addressing the world’s greatest deliberative body.”
“I do think those addressing the Senate should remember where they are,” Roberts said.
Under the terms of the organizing resolution, the House case managers will have 24 hours over three days to make their arguments to remove the president from office on charges of abuse of power and obstructing Congress. Attorneys for the White House likewise will have 24 hours over three days to state their case for acquittal.
Continue to article: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-impeachment-inquiry/senate-passes-mcconnell-impeachment-rules-after-nearly-13-hours-debate-n1119861
