Sen. Susan Collins: 'Prior to hearing the case and the answers to Senators’ questions, I will vote to table any attempts by either side to subpoena documents or witnesses before that stage in the trial.'
Senate impeachment trial of President Trump convenes: ABC News Live- Heated arguments over Senate rules resolution that now calls for 24 hours of arguments over three -- not two -- days after GOP's Collins objects- House managers complain about proposed trial rules, claiming McConnell is orchestrating a cover-up- McConnell lays out resolution on rules for the trial
There will be another two hours of debate on that amendment. McConnell says he will move to table that amendment as well.House Republicans Louie Gohmert, Lee Zeldin, and Mark Meadows walk into the chamber and onto the Senate floor. They are seated in the far back near the chamber doors.Patrick Philbin, one of the lawyers on President Trump's defense team, pushes back on the Democrats' argument that the White House refused to cooperate with the inquiry.
3:34 p.m. House manager Zoe Lofgren says documents Democrats want subpoenaed would reveal 'the truth' House impeachment manager Rep. Zoe Lofgren speaks during opening arguments in the Senate impeachment trial of President Donald Trump in the Senate Chamber, at the U.S. Capitol, Jan. 21, 2020, in Washington, D.C."The documents include records of the people who may have objected to this scheme, such as Ambassador Bolton. This is an important impeachment case against the president. The most important documents are going to be at the White House.
"I’m not going to suggest to you they are being deliberately misleading here, but it is just plain wrong. You have also heard my friends at the other table make attacks on me and chairman Nadler. You will hear more of that. I am not going to do them the dignity of responding to them, but I will say this. They make a very important point, although it's not the point I think they're trying to make," Schiff said.
Moderate GOP Sens. Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski -- who are seated next to each other -- are taking copious amounts of notes, their faces expressionless. "And what we just heard from manager Schiff, courts have no role, privileges don't apply, what happened in the past we should just ignore. In fact, manager Schiff just said try to summarize my colleagues defense of the president," Sekulow says.
The president and his counsel could not participate in person during the depositions that House Intelligence, Judiciary and Oversight committees held but once the hearings moved to the House Judiciary Committee, the White House and the president chose not to participate even though they were invited to present a defense.
He says that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi expressed her impatience and contempt for the proceedings and waiting for the courts to rule when she said"we cannot be at the mercy of the courts." Sen. Susan Collins and Sen. Lindsey Graham are directed to a different entrance to the Senate Chamber before the start of President Donald Trump's impeachment trial at the U.S. Capitol, Jan. 21, 2020, in Washington, D.C.
House impeachment manager Rep. Adam Schiff speaks during impeachment proceedings against President Donald Trump in the Senate at the U.S. Capitol, Jan. 21, 2020, in Washington, D.C. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts swears in the final senator, James Inhofe, as he presides over the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump in the Senate Chamber, Jan. 21, 2020, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.
“Let’s prove them wrong! How? By convicting the president? No.” Schiff says. “By letting the House prove its case." Continuing to mount a legal case, Schiff argues, would encourage Trump to"endlessly litigate the matter in court on every judgment," essentially filibustering the impeachment process. With Chief Justice John Roberts presiding, the Senate begins considering the rules resolution proposed by McConnell that Democrats strongly object to as unfair.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell speaks on the floor of the Senate, at the opening of the first day of arguments in the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., Jan.21, 2020. As the senators argue, Chief Justice John Roberts, who will preside over the Senate trial, arrives on Capitol Hill.
Romney calls the difference between the Trump trial and Clinton resolutions “insignificant,” while Democrats have said there are major differences, accusing Republicans of using the rules to engineer a"cover-up." Ahead of the Senate trial, Minority Leader Chuck Schumer sharply criticizes the procedural rules outlined by McConnell Monday night.
“This is a historic moment,” Schumer adds. “The eyes of American are watching. Republican senators must rise to the occasion.” House impeachment managers Rep. Adam Schiff and Rep. Jerry Nadler speak to reporters during a brief media availability before the start of the impeachment trial at the U.S. Capitol, Jan. 21, 2020, in Washington.
Nadler adds that all the Senate is doing is to “debate whether there will be a cover up,” accusing Republicans of “being afraid of what the witnesses will say.”
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