Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland, one of nine House Democrats named as prosecutors in the upcoming trial, read the article of impeachment on the Senate floor. In his address, Raskin quoted from Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, which he said “prohibits any person who has “engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the United States from holding any office under the United States.”
“President Trump gravely endangered the security of the United States and its institutions of government,” the article of impeachment says. “He threatened the integrity of the democratic system, interfered with the peaceful transfer of power, and imperiled a coequal branch of government (Fox News).
Supposed trial timeline (Axios).
From the Unity president Joe Biden: “I think it has to happen” (CNN).
Instead of Chief Justice Roberts, Senator Patrick Leahy will preside. Leahy voted to convict Trump in the first impeachment trial (Daily Wire).
From the Wall Street Journal editorial board -- Most GOP voters long ago stopped trusting the mainstream media. Most of the conservative press opposes conviction. Look at the abuse that Liz Cheney, the third-ranking Republican in the House, is taking for voting for impeachment. She made a justifiable vote of conscience. But back-benchers are trying to oust her from the leadership.
All of this suggests the trial, which will start in earnest on Feb. 9, will end in Senate acquittal. If it does, Mr. Trump will claim vindication, and it doesn’t matter how many times Speaker Nancy Pelosi claims he has been “impeached forever.” Mr. Trump will play it as one more show of elite contempt for the “deplorables” who are his voters. He could emerge politically strengthened (WSJ).
Democrats decided not to show up for work this week yet found time to impeach a private citizen (Kevin McCarthy - Twitter).
In connection with the impeachment story and the Democrats use of revenge, there is a bit of light: Senator Kyrsten Sinema has Democrats fuming (Hot Air). She will not vote to silence the GOP -- she will not vote to eliminate the filibuster.
And Senator Mitch McConnel dropped his demand that Democrats put in writing that they would not kill the filibuster. The story notes “Centrist Democrats Joe Manchin (D-W.V.) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) privately indicated to McConnell that they would not vote to end the filibuster, two sources familiar with the talks tell Axios” (Axios).
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There are irregularities in the procedure the Ds are using. "When the President of the United States is tried, the Chief Justice shall preside: And no Person shall be convicted without the Concurrence of two thirds of the Members present. Judgment in Cases of Impeachment shall not extend further than to removal from Office (from the US Constitution, Article 1, Section 3, para 6b, 7a)" The same paragraphs requires 2/3rd of the Senators vote to convict.
The Democrats chose to to use impeachment of a president as their
vehicle of revenge against Donald Trump. But Mr Trump; is no longer
president. If the Ds were sincere about wanting to indict and try him
for insurrection, they should use the ordinary court system.
Democrats can try Mr Trump if they wish, But an indictment to remove Trump from office, after he is already out, puts their foolish weakness on display.
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