McConnell Wants To Wait Until Next Month To Start Trump’s Impeachment Trial - Forbes

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Topline

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) is looking to wait at least three more weeks before holding an impeachment trial for former President Donald Trump, giving Trump more time to prepare an adequate defense, the senator said Thursday afternoon, though it’s unclear whether congressional Democrats will agree to this delay.

Key Facts

McConnell proposed giving Trump and House Democrats — who essentially serve as prosecutors — several weeks to file pre-trial briefs and responses, before starting a trial in mid-February, he said in a statement (the Washington Post first reported on the news).

The minority leader plans on negotiating this timeline with Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), part of a wider set of talks on how to share power in a Senate split 50-50 between two parties.

A Schumer spokesperson told Forbes the majority leader has received McConnell’s proposal and “will review it and discuss it with him.”

Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) told CNN Thursday some Democrats would be “open” to delaying Trump’s impeachment trial, as long as the Senate makes progress on confirming President Joe Biden’s major Cabinet nominees.

Crucial Quote

“Senate Republicans believe it is absolutely imperative that we do not allow a half-baked process to short-circuit the due process that former President Trump deserves or damage the Senate or the presidency,” McConnell said in a statement.

What To Watch For

The House of Representatives impeached Trump last week, but Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) still hasn’t sent the article of impeachment to the Senate yet. Once it’s sent, the Senate will need to start an impeachment trial within one day according to the body’s rules, unless Schumer and McConnell both agree to delay the trial. Pelosi has declined to say when she’ll send the article, telling reporters she wants to send it “soon” but is waiting for more information from the Senate (Pelosi’s office did not respond to a request for comment).

Tangent

After struggling to assemble a defense team, Trump has reportedly hired South Carolina attorney Butch Bowers to represent him during the Senate’s impeachment trial, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) told Republicans Thursday.

Key Background

The House impeached Trump for incitement of insurrection, accusing him of inflaming the angry mob that broke into the U.S. Capitol in a failed attempt to stop Congress from certifying Biden’s win. Trump’s impeachment marks two firsts: He’s the only president to be impeached twice, and he’ll be the first to stand trial in the Senate after leaving office. Some Republicans have criticized this gambit, arguing a trial when Trump is no longer president is unnecessary and constitutionally dubious, but Democrats say a trial would allow senators to hold Trump accountable and potentially ban him from running for office again.

Surprising Fact

McConnell has not ruled out voting to convict Trump. He has publicly accused Trump of helping to provoke a riot, and he’s reportedly told associates that he is undecided on how to vote.