Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

Powell, Citing Jobs Risk, Opens Door to Cuts but Doesn’t Commit

3 hours ago

Gaza City Officially in Famine, With Hunger Spreading, Says Global Hunger Monitor

3 hours ago

Gavin Newsom’s Redistricting Plan Is on Its Way to Voters. What You Need to Know

19 hours ago

CARB Executive Leader Rips Trump’s EPA for Seeking to Kill Proven Climate Science

21 hours ago

California Lawmakers Advance First Two Bills in Democrats’ Redistricting Plan

21 hours ago

Judge Rules Alina Habba Was Unlawfully Appointed as US Attorney in New Jersey

22 hours ago

Gov. Gavin Newsom’s Latest Role Is Social Media Troll

1 day ago
Pelosi Names Schiff, Nadler as Prosecutors for Trump Trial
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 6 years ago on
January 15, 2020

Share

WASHINGTON — Speaker Nancy Pelosi named House prosecutors for President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial on Wednesday ahead of votes to send the charges to the Senate, even as new information about the president’s Ukraine efforts intensified pressure for more witnesses.

“Today is an important day. This is about the Constitution of the United States.” — Speaker Nancy Pelosi
The seven-member prosecution team will be led by the chairmen of the House impeachment proceedings, Reps. Adam Schiff of the Intelligence Committee and Jerry Nadler of the Judiciary Committee, two of Pelosi’s top lieutenants for only the third presidential impeachment in the nation’s history.
“Today is an important day,” said Pelosi, flanked by the team. “This is about the Constitution of the United States.”
The managers are a diverse group with legal, law enforcement and military courtroom experience, including Hakeem Jeffries of New York, Sylvia Garcia of Texas, Val Demings of Florida, Jason Crow of Colorado and Zoe Lofgren of California.
Ahead of Wednesday’s House vote to approve the team and transmit the articles of impeachment, Schiff released new records from Lev Parnas, an associate of Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani, about the Ukraine strategy. including an exchange with another man about surveilling later-fired Ambassador Maria Yovanovitch.
Schiff said the new evidence should bring more pressure on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who is reluctant to allow witnesses to testify.

Trump’s Trial Will Be Only the Third Presidential Impeachment Trial in US History

“If McConnell makes this the first trial in history without witnesses, it will be exposed for what it is and that is an effort to cover up for the president,” Schiff said.
During Pelosi’s press conference, Trump tweeted that impeachment was “another Con Job by the Do Nothing Democrats. All of this work was supposed to be done by the House, not the Senate!”
Trump was impeached by the Democratic-led House last month on charges of abuse of power over his pressure on Ukraine to investigate Democratic rival Joe Biden as Trump withheld aid from the country. Trump was also charged with obstructing Congress’ ensuing probe.
After Wednesday’s House vote to send the articles of impeachment to the Senate for trial, the managers are to walk the articles across the Capitol to the Senate in a dramatic procession.
McConnell opened the Senate dismissing what he called a rushed impeachment that is more about the politics of Democrats who don’t like Trump than the charges against him.
“This isn’t really about Ukraine policy or military money,” McConnell said. “This has been naked partisanship all along.”
Trump’s trial will be only the third presidential impeachment trial in U.S. history, and it comes against the backdrop of a politically divided nation in an election year.

Photo of President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump
President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump arrive for the College Football Playoff National Championship game between LSU and Clemson, Monday, Jan. 13, 2020, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/ Evan Vucci)

A Mounting Number of Senators Say They Want to Ensure the Ground Rules

The Senate is expected to transform into an impeachment court as early as Thursday, although significant proceedings wouldn’t begin until next Tuesday after the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. The Constitution calls for the chief justice to preside over senators, who serve as jurors and swear an oath to deliver “impartial justice.”

“There is little or no sentiment in the Republican conference for a motion to dismiss. Our members feel we have an obligation to listen to the arguments.” — Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell
McConnell, who is negotiating rules for the trial proceedings, said all 53 GOP senators are on board with his plan to start the session and consider the issue of witnesses later.
Senate Republicans signaled they would reject the idea of simply voting to dismiss the articles of impeachment against Trump, as Trump himself has suggested. McConnell agreed he does not have the votes to do that.
“There is little or no sentiment in the Republican conference for a motion to dismiss,” McConnell said Tuesday. ‘’Our members feel we have an obligation to listen to the arguments.”
A mounting number of senators say they want to ensure the ground rules include the possibility of calling new witnesses.
Sen. Susan Collins of Maine is leading an effort among some Republicans, including Mitt Romney of Utah and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska for votes on witnesses.

Republicans Control the Chamber 53-47

Romney said he wants to hear from John Bolton, the former national security adviser at the White House, who others have said raised alarms about the alternative foreign policy toward Ukraine being run by Giuliani.
Democrats have been pushing Republicans to consider new testimony, arguing that fresh information has emerged during Pelosi’s monthlong delay in transmitting the charges.
Republicans control the chamber, 53-47, and are all but certain to acquit Trump. But it takes just 51 votes during the trial to approve rules or call witnesses. Just four GOP senators could form a majority with Democrats to insist on new testimony. It also would take only 51 senators to vote to dismiss the charges against Trump.
At Tuesday’s private GOP lunch, Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky warned that if witnesses are allowed, defense witnesses could also be called. He and other Republicans want to subpoena Biden and his son, Hunter, who served on the board of a gas company in Ukraine, Burisma, while his father was vice president.
McConnell prefers to model Trump’s trial partly on the process used for President Bill Clinton’s impeachment trial in 1999. It, too, contained motions for dismissal or calling new witnesses.
McConnell is hesitant to call new witnesses who would prolong the trial and put vulnerable senators who are up for reelection in 2020 in a bind with tough choices. At the same time, he wants to give those same senators ample room to show voters they are listening.

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

Bulldogs Hope to Make Kansas Dust in the Wind as Entz, Warner Debut

DON'T MISS

Wall Street Soars as Powell Hints at Rate Cut in September

DON'T MISS

Trump’s Tariffs Could Reduce US Deficit by $4 Trillion, CBO Estimates

DON'T MISS

Pew: US Immigrant Population Declines for First Time in Nearly 60 Years

DON'T MISS

Fresno Hit-and-Run on Highway 168 Kills Motorcyclist. Suspect Remains at Large

DON'T MISS

Feds Indict Retired Fresno Judge for Sexual Assault and Obstructing an Investigation

DON'T MISS

Canada to Remove Many Retaliatory Tariffs on US Goods, Says Source

DON'T MISS

After Joining TikTok, Trump Says He Could Extend Sale Deadline if Needed

DON'T MISS

LaVerne and Shirley Will Deliver Double the Joy for Their Adoptive Family

DON'T MISS

Highway 99 Stop in Fresno Leads CHP to Big Marijuana Bust, DUI Arrest

UP NEXT

Trump’s Tariffs Could Reduce US Deficit by $4 Trillion, CBO Estimates

UP NEXT

Pew: US Immigrant Population Declines for First Time in Nearly 60 Years

UP NEXT

Canada to Remove Many Retaliatory Tariffs on US Goods, Says Source

UP NEXT

After Joining TikTok, Trump Says He Could Extend Sale Deadline if Needed

UP NEXT

Powell, Citing Jobs Risk, Opens Door to Cuts but Doesn’t Commit

UP NEXT

FBI Agents Search Ex-Trump Adviser Bolton’s Home, Source Says

UP NEXT

More Americans Applying for Refugee Status in Canada, Data Shows

UP NEXT

US Supreme Court Lets Trump Cut Diversity-Related NIH Grants

UP NEXT

US State Department Says Continuous Vetting Covers 55 Million Visa Holders

UP NEXT

Judge Rules Alina Habba Was Unlawfully Appointed as US Attorney in New Jersey

Pew: US Immigrant Population Declines for First Time in Nearly 60 Years

59 minutes ago

Fresno Hit-and-Run on Highway 168 Kills Motorcyclist. Suspect Remains at Large

1 hour ago

Feds Indict Retired Fresno Judge for Sexual Assault and Obstructing an Investigation

2 hours ago

Canada to Remove Many Retaliatory Tariffs on US Goods, Says Source

2 hours ago

After Joining TikTok, Trump Says He Could Extend Sale Deadline if Needed

2 hours ago

LaVerne and Shirley Will Deliver Double the Joy for Their Adoptive Family

2 hours ago

Highway 99 Stop in Fresno Leads CHP to Big Marijuana Bust, DUI Arrest

3 hours ago

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Anthony Mark Lowry

3 hours ago

Powell, Citing Jobs Risk, Opens Door to Cuts but Doesn’t Commit

3 hours ago

FBI Agents Search Ex-Trump Adviser Bolton’s Home, Source Says

3 hours ago

Bulldogs Hope to Make Kansas Dust in the Wind as Entz, Warner Debut

The Matt Entz era at Fresno State kicks off Saturday. The E.J. Warner era starts Saturday. Fresno State Bulldogs at Kansas Jayhawks Time/Da...

6 minutes ago

PREVIEW Fresno State Bulldogs Football at Kansas Stadium
6 minutes ago

Bulldogs Hope to Make Kansas Dust in the Wind as Entz, Warner Debut

Futures-options traders work on the floor at the American Stock Exchange (AMEX) at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City, U.S., August 22, 2025. (Reuters/Brendan McDermid)
37 minutes ago

Wall Street Soars as Powell Hints at Rate Cut in September

President Donald Trump holds a chart next to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick as Trump delivers remarks on tariffs in the Rose Garden at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., April 2, 2025. (Reuters File)
41 minutes ago

Trump’s Tariffs Could Reduce US Deficit by $4 Trillion, CBO Estimates

Protesters hold placards as they gather around the Los Angeles Federal Building following multiple detentions by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), in downtown Los Angeles, California, U.S., June 6, 2025. REUTERS/Daniel Cole
59 minutes ago

Pew: US Immigrant Population Declines for First Time in Nearly 60 Years

A 27-year-old motorcyclist was killed in a hit-and-run crash on Highway 168 in Fresno County on Thursday, August 21, 2025. (GV Wire File)
1 hour ago

Fresno Hit-and-Run on Highway 168 Kills Motorcyclist. Suspect Remains at Large

judge adolfo corona getting indicted by grand jury
2 hours ago

Feds Indict Retired Fresno Judge for Sexual Assault and Obstructing an Investigation

A drone view of Stellantis's Chrysler Windsor Assembly facility in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, February 4, 2025. (Reuters File)
2 hours ago

Canada to Remove Many Retaliatory Tariffs on US Goods, Says Source

The U.S. flag and the TikTok logo seen through broken glass are seen in this illustration taken January 16, 2025. (Reuters File)
2 hours ago

After Joining TikTok, Trump Says He Could Extend Sale Deadline if Needed

Search

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Send this to a friend