WASHINGTON (AP) — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Sunday that senators will “pay a price” if they block new witnesses in Donald Trump’s impeachment trial, but the president quickly retorted that she and House Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff should also testify.
The House plans to vote this week to transmit the articles of impeachment to the Senate for the historic trial on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress over Trump’s actions toward Ukraine. It will be only the third impeachment trial in American history.
“It’s about a fair trial,” Pelosi told ABC’s “’This Week.” “We’ve done our job. We have defended the Constitution of the United States. We would hope the Senate would do that as well.”
She warned: “Now the ball is in their court to either do that or pay a price.”
Trump tweeted right before and after Pelosi’s appearance, in both instances using derisive nicknames. He said both she and Schiff should appear in the Senate for testimony.
“He must be a Witness, and so should she!” Trump tweeted.
The president also rebutted Pelosi’s suggestion that no matter what the Senate does, the House vote last month means Trump will be “impeached forever” and “for life.”
“Why should I have the stigma of Impeachment attached to my name when I did NOTHING wrong?” Trump tweeted, calling the House action a “totally partisan Hoax.’”
It is unlikely that the Republican-controlled Senate would call either Democrat to testify in the president’s impeachment trial, which could start as soon as this week. The Democratic-run House is set to vote this week to send the articles of impeachment after Pelosi ended a more than three-week delay.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., seeking a speedy trial to acquit the president, is reluctant to seek more witnesses.
McConnell has proposed a process similar to the last presidential impeachment trial of Bill Clinton in 1999 that would start the proceedings and then vote later on hearing new testimony.
One leading Republican, Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, has already predicted that the trial would end ”in a matter of days.”
In a Fox News Channel interview on Saturday, Graham dismissed Pelosi’s tactics, saying the delay would have no effect on calling new witnesses or the expected outcome — acquittal by the GOP-controlled Senate. read more
schitt’s been awfully quiet lately
i think the schitt’s hit the fan
Pelosi better stock up on Dentu-Grip!
The Rs won’t call them.
I can see it now. Chitty Schiff gets called to testify. He’ll just say “I’m allowed to lie because I’m a Liewyer & I have this book of Liewyer Stuff that proves I can”.
: “Now the ball is in their court to either do that or pay a price.”
A thinly veiled threat, and an abuse of power.
She has no authority in the Senate, so exactly does she intend to do about it?
“A sound and a fury – signifying nothing.”
“The Mountains shook! And gave birth to a mouse.”
“Another of Pelosi’s wet dripping farts.”
We’ve allowed the criminals control of our country and President Trump must bear the stigma. He deserves better. We deserve better.
The sooner the better.
izlamo delenda est …
For the most part, members of Congress can lie with impunity while performing their duties. It’s supported by the speech and debate clause of the Cosntituion.
” It’s supported by the speech and debate clause of the Cosntituion.”
Yeah, but that doesn’t let them lie under oath.
Not that a Democrat would be prosecuted for it.
If the oath means nothing, what matters the lie?
izlamo delenda est …
“We have defended the Constitution of the United States”
wait a minute, when did I miss that ?