President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial is historic, with the promise of moments of drama, maybe even surprise. In the minds of the D.C. press corps and punditry, it’s also an event …
trial is historic, with the promise of moments of drama, maybe even surprise. In the minds of the D.C. press corps and punditry, it’s also an event with a likely outcome.
Another unknown is what impact the trial will have on the 2020 presidential race – an event that makes this moment even more unusual. As Cordes notes, “Senators are highly aware that they are making a decision that will be examined for posterity, and that they are taking on a role that is bigger than themselves in some ways.”The first order of business will be setting out the order of business – as in a resolution for how the trial will proceed. That in and of itself could get contentious, as Democrats are seeking to call fact witnesses and obtain new documents.
Trump’s legal team is urging the Senate to quickly dismiss the impeachment charges – calling them a “constitutional travesty” – so there could be an effort early on to try to dispose of the case quickly. Yes, the trial will be televised, but not like a sporting event, the Oscars or even past joint sessions of Congress. That’s because the Senate, not independent news organizations, will control the cameras, limiting views to fixed positions in the chamber.
Off the Senate floor, there could be some friction as reporters try to chase down senators coming and going from the proceedings. Already, the Standing Committee of Correspondents, a group of reporters which oversees credentialing to the press galleries, has indicated its displeasure over proposed restrictions where reporters can gather outside the chamber, essentially penning them off behind a velvet rope so they won’t be able to chase down reluctant lawmakers.
A big question is how long the major broadcast networks will stay with the proceedings. During the House impeachment hearings and the floor debate, the networks largely played it by ear, coming back and forth to coverage to try to time opportune moments. ABC News says that its streaming platform, ABC News Live, will provide gavel to gavel coverage, as will Fox News Channel. PBS also is covering the proceedings, and some stations plan to replay the day’s events in primetime.
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