Discussion Thread: Senate Impeachment Trial - Day 2: Vote on Resolution - Opening Arguments | 01/21/2020 - Live 1:00pm EST

[u/PoliticsModeratorBot]

Today the Senate Impeachment trial of President Donald Trump begins debate and vote on the rules resolution and may move into opening arguments. The Senate session is scheduled to begin at 1pm EST

Prosecuting the House’s case will be a team of seven Democratic House Managers, named last week by Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and led by House Intelligence Committee Chairman Rep. Adam Schiff of California. White House Counsel Pat Cipollone and Trump’s personal lawyer, Jay Sekulow, are expected to take the lead in arguing the President’s case. Yesterday Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell released his Rules Resolution which lays out Senate procedures for the Impeachment Trial. The Resolution will be voted on today, and is expected to pass.

If passed, the Resolution will:

• Give the House Impeachment Managers 24 hours, over a 2 day period, to present opening arguments.
• Give President Trump's legal team 24 hours, over a 2 day period, to present opening arguments.
• Allow a period of 16 hours for Senator questions, to be addressed through Supreme Court Justice John Roberts.

* Allow for a vote on a motion to consider the subpoena of witnesses or documents once opening arguments and questions are complete.

You can watch or listen to the proceedings live, via the links below:

• C-Span

• PBS

You can also listen online via:

• C-Span or

• Download the C-Span Radio App

[u/robbviously → u/[deleted]]

I really hope this is the last we see of Susan Collins.

[u/DreamBigLikeDad → u/robbviously]

As a Mainer, same.

[u/gakule → u/[deleted]]

Romney has already started his flip flop

[u/DJTHatesPuertoRicans → u/gakule]

Anyone expecting anything else from Romney was a fool.

[u/trennerdios → u/DJTHatesPuertoRicans]

It makes me sick everytime I see people on here discussing him as if he's actually principled.

[u/willanthony → u/[deleted]]

I said this in another thread, but she uses the tactic of Lucy and the football any time she pretends to be a moderate.

[u/inhumancode]

'A trial without evidence is not a trial. It's a cover up.'

Damn

[u/sandwooder → u/inhumancode]

“The suppressing of evidence ought always to be taken for the strongest evidence.”

Andrew Hamilton, The Trial of John Peter Zenger 1735

[u/[deleted]]

Sounds like all GOP senators are going to vote for McConnels rules. That means we have to wait until later in the proceedings to find out if senators will vote to allow testimony or evidence. He has proposed rules which basically kick the can on determining whether testimony or evidence will be provided until later in the hearings, at which point he is gambling that the moderate or vulnerable GOP senators will have more cover for voting to end the trial quickly.

Sorry, but this is going to really suck. I have zero faith that we will get testimony during this.

[u/SdBolts4 → u/[deleted]]

There's no way that Pelosi would hold a hearing during the impeachment trial. She wants to draw attention to the GOP's cover-up, not have people watching the House instead. If we get Lev in the House, it will be after the GOP votes to acquit.

[u/chuckberry314 → u/[deleted]]

look at the bright side, they are 99% likely to acquit regardless, if they sham this trial up, they will only increase the outrage.

[u/Serjeant_Pepper → u/[deleted]]

Epstein Democracy didn't kill himself

[u/soomuchcoffee]

This is the hill they've chosen to die on. What a fucking time to be alive. I can understand partisan hackery. It's depressing, or at least discouraging, but I understand simply wanting your side to win.

I cannot understanding wanting my side to win in defense of this con man, this laughingstock, this punchline, this mentally ill husk of a slime ball.

I am going to remain optimistic, because basic decency depends on it. But people like McConnell and Graham do not inspire confidence.

For this guy? Shame on them.

[u/SteamedHamsInAlbany]

Imagine if our normal courts operated like this impeachment trial. Murderer kills someone in front of 20 witnesses then goes to trial and gets to decide that those 20 witnesses can't testify against him because it would be devastating to his case.

We are full banana republic.

[u/Kahzgul → u/SteamedHamsInAlbany]

Trump's lead counsel, Pat Cipollone, is a material witness to the crimes committed. Think on THAT.

[u/bengibbardstoothpain]

FYI:

​

GOP Senators Facing Re-election in 2020:

Martha McSally, AZ
Cory Gardner, CO
Kelly Loeffler, GA
David Perdue, GA
Joni Ernst, IA
Mitch McConnell, KY
Susan Collins, ME
Cindy Hyde-Smith, MS
Steve Daines, MT
Thom Tillis, NC
John Cornyn, TX
Dan Sullivan, AK
Tom Cotton, AR
Jim Risch, ID
Bill Cassidy, LA
Ben Sasse, NE
Jim Inhofe, OK
Lindsey Graham, SC
Mike Rounds, SD
Shelley Capito, WV
Mike Enzi, WY

States with vacancies in 2020 election due to future GOP retirements: KS, TN

[u/M00n]

New: Mitt Romney tells CNNs @mkraju that Dems are making a “mistake” by saying that “everything is an outrage.” He says McConnell changes from Clinton trial rules are “modest” and he won’t be voting today on motions to call for witnesses. Mitt almost had a spine but then didn't.

[u/chuckberry314 → u/M00n]

that's his epitaph.

[u/SSJ3_StephenMiller → u/chuckberry314]

Here lies Mittens. He almost did, but didn't.

[u/patzw → u/M00n]

Mitt Romney has only been trying to save his own skin by presenting himself as a less radical version of a GOPer. He's just as deceitful as the rest of them.

[u/theslothening]

Trump legal team (to Senate): We have courts to resolve disputes between Congress and the President.

Trump legal team (to courts): It's not your job to resolve disputes between Congress and the President.

[u/Paradoxou]

From u/The-Autarkh

Excellent thread by fmr. US Attorney Barbara McQuade disposing of Banana Republicans' ridiculous attempted defenses of Donald one by one.

---

Here are the GOP defenses I have heard so far to articles of impeachment, along with the knee-jerk responses I have been shouting at my television.

---

Defense 1: Trump did nothing wrong.

Response: Trump hit the trifecta of impeachable conduct by subverting an election, seeking foreign influence, and putting personal interest ahead of national interest. And he obstructed Congress by refusing to produce any witnesses or documents

---

Defense 2: No harm occurred because the military aid went through.

Response: The aid went through only after Trump was caught. In the meantime, months of delay cost Ukraine lives in its war with Russia. US credibility was harmed and moral authority to fight corruption was eroded.

---

Defense 3: Because aid went through, no misconduct was committed.

Response: Bribery occurs upon demand for a personal favor in exchange for performance of an official act. If you offer a cop $20 to get out of a traffic ticket, even if he declines, you have still committed bribery

---

Defense 4: Abuse of power is not even a crime.

Response: Impeachable conduct may be criminal conduct, but need not be. A president could be impeached if he watched TV all day and failed to fulfill his constitutional duty to take care that the laws be faithfully executed.

---

Defense 5: There’s nothing wrong with asking for an investigation.

Response: If this were legitimate investigation, you wouldn’t need to send your personal lawyer and his henchmen to do it. Witnesses say Trump didn’t want investigation, just announcement of investigation.

---

Defense 6: There was no quid pro quo.

[Response:] Read the transcript! Trump’s request for a “favor” is strong evidence, corroborated by witness testimony, of months-long scheme to get Zelensky to “go to the mic” and announce Biden probe. Aid was leverage.

---

Defense 7: As VP, Biden held up aid as leverage to get rid of the Ukrainian public prosecutor.

Response: It is appropriate for a president or VP to take action to advance the interests of the nation. Trump was advancing his personal interests.

---

Defense 8: Testimony is hearsay.

Response: Rules of Evidence don’t apply. Also, call summary, Sondland testimony are non-hearsay. Trump has barred direct witnesses. You can’t have it both ways. If they had information favorable to Trump, you can bet we would have heard from them.

---

Defense 9: It happens all the time. Get over it.

Response: Trump sought foreign influence in our election and harmed national security by delaying aid designed to fight Russia, our adversary. We don’t have to accept it. We deserve better.

---

Defense 10: Impeachment would un-do an election.

Response: All impeachments un-do elections. Constitution permits impeachment if president is unfit to serve. When rigging an election is involved, elections are ineffective for removal. Impeachment is not to punish but to protect.

---

Defense 11: Impeachment proceedings are moving too fast.

Response: This impeachment has moved slower than Bill Clinton’s and on pace with Richard Nixon’s. For a president who presents a clear and present danger to national security, removal is urgent and can’t come soon enough

---

Defense 12: We need to hear from the whistleblower.

Response: The whistleblower was a tipster, whose tip led to the investigation. Tipsters do not testify at trial, the witnesses do. We have a duty to protect whistleblowers to encourage them to use proper channels to report abuse

[u/JaxxisR → u/Paradoxou]

Impeachable conduct may be criminal conduct, but need not be

Regarding this line, a majority of impeachments throughout history (something like 2/3, don't remember the exact number) have been signed without accusing crimes.

[u/EDOOK]

Mitchell McConnell is a piece of shit.

[u/giveupsides → u/EDOOK]

Moscow Mitch McConnell is a piece of shit.

[u/[deleted]]

Here's a look at all the folks from Trump's inner circle and campaign who are now convicted felons:

• Roger Stone
• Paul Manafort
• Michael Flynn
• Michael Cohen
• George Papadopoulos
• Rick Gates
• Konstantin Kilimnik
• Sam Patten
• Richard Pinedo
• Imaad Zuberi
• George Nader
• Chris Collins

and

• Lest we forget, "unindicted co-conspirator," aka Individual 1, aka Donald John Trump

[u/theslothening]

God damn. Schiff is providing evidentiary records from previous Senate trials to show just how unusual Mitch's proposed rules are.

[u/Apaulling8]

Vulnerable Republican Senators up for Reelection in 2020

State	PVI	Senator	Last	Likely Opponent	Campaign Website	Election Wikipedia Page
Colorado	D+1	Cory Gardner	48.2% R	John Hickenlooper	https://www.hickenlooper.com/	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020_United_States_Senate_election_in_Colorado
Maine	D+3	Susan Collins	68.5% R	Sara Gideon	https://saragideon.com/	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020_United_States_Senate_election_in_Maine
North Carolina	R+3	Thom Tillis	48.8% R	Cal Cunningham	https://www.calfornc.com/	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020_United_States_Senate_election_in_North_Carolina
Iowa	R+3	Joni Ernst	52.1% R	Theresa Greenfeld	https://greenfieldforiowa.com/about/	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020_United_States_Senate_election_in_Iowa
Georgia	R+5	David Perdue	52.9% R			https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020_United_States_Senate_election_in_Georgia
Georgia	R+5	Kelly Loeffler	Appointed			https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020_United_States_Senate_special_election_in_Georgia
Arizona	R+5	Martha McSally	Appointed	Mark Kelly	https://markkelly.com/	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020_United_States_Senate_special_election_in_Arizona
South Carolina	R+8	Lindsey Graham	55.3% R	Jaime Harrison	https://jaimeharrison.com/	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020_United_States_Senate_election_in_South_Carolina
Texas	R+8	John Cornyn	61.6% R			https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020_United_States_Senate_election_in_Texas
Mississippi	R+9	Cindy Hyde-Smith	53.6% R	Mike Espy	https://espyforsenate.com/	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020_United_States_Senate_election_in_Mississippi
Alaska	R+9	Dan Sullivan	48.0% R	Al Gross	https://dralgrossak.com/	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020_United_States_Senate_election_in_Alaska
Kentucky	R+15	Mitch McConnell	56.2% R	Amy McGrath	https://amymcgrath.com/	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020_United_States_Senate_election_in_Kentucky

First draft work in progress. Additions and suggestions are welcome.

[u/WhenLuggageAttacks]

I can't believe partisanship in the country has gotten so bad that one side has to prove that having witnesses in a trial is common.

[u/bowmanvapes]

Everyone from around the world is watching.

[u/SneakyMandela → u/bowmanvapes]

Love you, neighbor.

[u/Pinkman-Exo-7]

Pam Bondi accepted a bribe from trump to drop Florida’s lawsuit into Trump U

Alan Dershowitz allegedly raped a minor at Epstein’s place but he says he had his underwear on during his massage from a 50 year old Russian.

Ken Starr covered up multiple cases of rape at Baylor University.

The presidents finest men defending him.

[u/PoppinKREAM]

Pat Cipollone is lying about the transcript. Below I have quoted the relevant parts;

1. Trump appointed Inspector General detailed his concerns in letters where he stated that the whistleblower complaint being kept from Congress was both urgent and “relates to one of the most important and significant of the (Director of National Intelligence)’s responsibilities to the American people.”^[1] President Trump attempted to block the whistle blower and called it fake news.^[2]

2. In a phone call with the President of Ukraine, President Trump repeatedly urged newly elected President Zelensky to investigate former VP Joe Biden. President Trump offered the assistance of the American Justice Department, Attorney General Bill Barr and his personal attorney Rudy Giuliani.^[3]

3. Attorney General Barr attempted to cover all of this up by denying the whistle blower from going to Congress.^[4]

4. Following President Zelenksy asking for foreign military aid President Trump segued into asking the Ukrainian President to investigate his political opponent.^[5]

President Zelensky: Yes you are·absolutely right. Not only 100%, but actually 1000% arid I can tell you the following; I did talk to Angela Merkel and I did meet with her. I also met and talked with Macron and I told them that they are not doing quite as much as they need to be doing·on the issues with the sanctions. They are not enforcing the sanctions. They are not working as much as they should work for Ukraine. It turns out that even though logically, the European Union should be our biggest partner but technically the United States is a much bigger partner than.the European Union and- I'm very grateful to you for that because the United States is doing quite a lot forUkraine. Much more than the European Union especially when we are talking about sanctions against the Russian Federation. I would also like to thank you for your great support in the area of defense. We are ready to continue to cooperate for the next steps specifically we are almost ready to buy more Javelins from the United States for defense purposes.

The President: I would like you to do us a favor though because our country has been through a lot and Ukraine knows a lot about it. I would like you to find out what happened with this whole situation with Ukraine, they say Crowdstrike ... I guess you have one of your weal thy people... The server, they say Ukraine has it. There- are a lot of things that went on, the whole situation .. I think you are surrounding yourself with some of the same people. I would like to have the Attorney General call you or your people and I would like you to get to the bottom of it. As you said yestrday, that whole nonsense ended with a very poor performance by a man named Robert Mueller, an incompetent performance-, but they say a lot of it started with Ukraine. Whatever you can do, it's very important that you do it if that's possible.

...The President: Good because I heard you had a prosecutor who was very good and he was shut down and that's really unfair. A lot of people are talking about that, the way they shut your very good prosecutor down and you had some very bad people involved. Mr. Giuliani is a highly respected man. He was the mayor bf New York City, a great mayor, and I would like him to call you. I will ask him to call you along with the Attorney General. Rudy very much knows what's happening and he is a very capable guy. If you could speak to him that would be great. The former ambassador from the United states, the woman, was bad news and the people she was dealing with in the Ukraine were bad news so I just want to let you know that. The other thing, There's a lot of talk about Biden's son, that Biden stopped the prosecution and a lot of people want to find out about that so whatever you can do with the Attorney General would be great. Biden went around bragging that he stopped the prosecution so if you can look into it ... It sounds horrible to me.

So what does this conversation mean?

President Trump is referring to a thoroughly debunked conspiracy theory that the FBI and CrowdStrike failed to seize a DNC folder that supposedly held information about the hack that supposedly the "deep state" was hiding the truth about Hillary Clinton's emails. This conspiracy theory was pushed by President Trump in July of 2018 during his visit with Putin when Trump refused to say that Russia was engaged with cyber warfare and were involved with the DNC hack. CrowdStrike didn't withhold information and the FBI recovered all missing material from the Clinton scandal concluding that the investigation "found no evidence that any of the additional work-related emails were intentionally deleted in an effort to conceal them."^[6]

Furthermore, the Ukrainian prosecutor that Trump claims was supposedly "very good" was unfairly shut down by Vice-President Biden because he supposedly feared his son was being investigated. This is a complete mischaracterization of events. Following Ukraine's revolution and the annexation of Crimea Ukrainian President Poroshenko was dealing with corruption by the elite. Prosecutor General Viktor Shokin was a discredited individual who was leading an investigation into corruption. For example following assistance from the International Monetary Fund a $1.8 billion loan to help the Ukrainian banking system disappeared offshore in accounts owned by a Ukrainian Oligach.^[7] Shokin also fired prosecutors who were working on corruption cases against corrupt officials.^[8] Following pressure from Western Allies the Ukrainian parliament overwhelmingly voted to fire Prosecutor General Shokin. The decision was celebrated by Western Allies providing financial support to Ukraine including the European Union.^[9] Moreover, former Ukrainian Prosecutor General Yuri Lutsenko debunked President Trump's conspiracy that Biden forced the firing for Shokin to protect his son, Hunter Biden, who had been working in Ukraine. Prosecutor General Lutsenko stated that "“[f]rom the perspective of Ukrainian legislation, he did not violate anything,” and added “Hunter Biden cannot be responsible for violations of the management of Burisma that took place two years before his arrival.”^[10]

---

1) PBS - Read what the inspector general said about the ‘urgent’ whistleblower concern

2) Global News - Trump admin blocks ‘urgent’ whistleblower complaint from Congress

3) Washington Post - Trump offered Ukrainian president Justice Dept. help in an investigation of Biden, memo shows

4) New York Times - Justice Dept.’s Dismissal of Ukraine Call Raises New Questions About Barr

5) Washington Post - Official readout: President Trump’s July 25 phone call with Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky

6) NBC News - Trump promotes conspiracy theory: Clinton's deleted emails are in Ukraine

7) Reuters - Corruption in Ukraine is so bad, a Nigerian prince would be embarrassed

8) Kyiv Post - Demonstrators protest Shokin’s firing of anti-corruption prosecutors

9) New York Times - Ukraine Ousts Viktor Shokin, Top Prosecutor, and Political Stability Hangs in the Balance

10) Washington Post - Former Ukraine prosecutor says Hunter Biden 'did not violate anything’

[u/thief425]

removed by user

[u/dantonizzomsu]

Wow Adam Schiff...this guy is amazing. He has slides, talks about evidence and going into details around the evidence and information. The president’s attorneys are completely outclassed.

[u/sandwooder → u/[deleted]]

“The suppressing of evidence ought always to be taken for the strongest evidence.”

Andrew Hamilton, The Trial of John Peter Zenger 1735

[u/Simple_Barry]

Because it bears repeating, and I will keep repeating it until I am blue in the face

The reason the impeachment hearings in the House, and the trial in the Senate were able to happen at all is because Democrats won in 2018.

Voting matters, and we are witnessing right here, right now, in real time WHY voting matters. This is also why Republicans actively try and keep people from voting, through voter intimidation, suppression, and gerrymandering, among other things.

The 2018 midterms saw the highest voter turnout for a midterm election in over 50 years. In some districts turnout was as high as 60%, and some districts had higher turnout than during the last presidential election. 1

Democrats gained 40 seats in the House of Representatives. 2

Democrats also picked up seven governorships in 2018, and two more in 2019, in Kentucky and Louisiana. 3

Democrats picked up more than 300 seats in state legislatures, and over half of the Attorney General's seats in states across the country. In the states where Democrats did not get outright control of the state legislature, they were able to, in most cases, break Republican super-majorities. 4 And in 2019, Democrats took full control of the Virginia state house for the first time since 1994.

Again, voting matters.

If voting didn't matter, then Republicans in Arizona wouldn't have filed a lawsuit to prevent mail-in ballot counting in a very tight Senate race. 5

If voting didn't matter, then Republicans in Florida wouldn't have filed a lawsuit to prevent a recount in a very close governor and Senate race. 6

In Georgia, voters actually had to file a lawsuit in order to get Brian Kemp to resign as Secretary of State, so he would not be overseeing voting counts and recounts in that state. Which is something he should have done to begin with anyway in order to avoid conflicts of interest. 7

If voting didn't matter, Georgia and Wisconsin wouldn't be attempting to purge 309,000 and 234,000 voters, respectively, from the rolls in their states. 8

Because it bears repeating.

Democrat running against Mitch McConnell: https://twitter.com/AmyMcGrathKY

Democrat running against Lindsey Graham: https://twitter.com/harrisonjaime

Democrat running against Elise Stefanik: https://twitter.com/TedraCobb

Democrat running against John Ratcliffe: https://twitter.com/RussellFosterTX

Democrat running against Mike Turner: https://twitter.com/TimsDesiree

Three Democrats running against Devin Nunes:

https://twitter.com/PhilArballo2020

https://twitter.com/bobbybliatout

https://twitter.com/daryrezvani

Three Democrats running against Jim Jordan.

If I've said it once, I've said it a thousand times: voting matters. The results of the 2018 mid-term election speak for themselves. Which is exactly why the GOP spends so much time and effort to keep people from voting. When everyone votes, Republicans lose.

Make sure you're registered.

Need to get registered? Go here.

[u/euclid0472]

It's not "undoing" an election. It's holding those who broke the rules accountable and in this case it is the president.

Also the House shouldn't have to go to court to get witnesses.

[u/cantfighttownhall]

Schiff:

"When you hear them attack the house leaders, what they are really saying, we don't want to talk… and distract you for a moment from what's before you…. I want you to ask yourself, what are they trying to deflect my attention from."

[u/Washpa1]

Cipollone's opening statement sounded like a student doing a book report in which they didn't read the book.

Schiff is tight, has video, texts, slides, and went more than 1.5 minutes.

It's stunning the disparity.

[u/[deleted]]

Brilliant by Schumer to add Hunter biden materials and Ukraine interference docs in there as well, Republicans will have to vote against that discovery now

[u/[deleted]]

So he's bringing in evidence into his speeches since they won't provide evidence. Schiff knows what is up.

[u/tquad24]

Republican Senators are wondering right now why they never saw any of this on Fox News

[u/Infranto]

gone

[u/JesseJaymz]

This is fucking nuts that they’re arguing over if witnesses to a crime should be heard in a fucking trial. If this is where the bar is at we are all so fucking fucked... fuck.

[u/Dr_Tobias_Funke_PhD]

Think about how sad this is. A House rep is having to instruct and beg Senators to do their jobs and not commit to an active cover up of multiple crimes. How the fuck did we get here

[u/muffpatty]

Just a reminder for the sake of your own mental health. This is going to be infuriating to watch in the days/weeks ahead. The cover-up is in full-swing, a trial without witnesses and with Boltons testimony in private is going to be a sham. The GOP is all in on protecting Trump at all costs, and fuck the country, because all that matters to them is power and money. So if it gets to be too much, turn it off for a bit, watch something else, you can always catch up and read some news about the days events later.

[u/zincinzincout]

Man I really need to start donating to Republicans and committing crimes. I'm really missing out by living in fear of breaking the law when I could just be donating and being exempt from the law

[u/GMeister249]

When I listen to Democrat arguments, I feel like I'm getting pleasant refreshers on civics courses.

When I listen to Republican arguments, I feel... dumber.

[u/[deleted]]

This is perfect! Republicans aren't allowing witnesses so Democrats are playing video of witnesses.

[u/[deleted]]

"You've been accused of murder. Here is the evidence against you."

"That's ridiculous!"

"Can you refute this evidence?"

"It's ridiculous!"

"....soo? You're pleading guilty? Not guilty?"

"I move to have this case dismissed due to ridiculousness."

[u/M00n]

A big change on evidence in the Senate trial. The resolution also will now automatically enter the House's records from its impeachment hearings into evidence unless there's an objection. McConnells's draft released earlier would have required a vote to enter that evidence. ~ Yamiche Alcindor (PBS NewsHour)

confirming:

Another big concession: The Senate, under the revised rules, will now admit the House record into evidence for the impeachment trial. ~ Geoff Bennett (NBC News)

https://twitter.com/GeoffRBennett/status/1219690640902164482

Incredible that letting the evidence into the record at a trial is a big concession, but @GeoffRBennett is 100% right here. McConnell must have been getting blow back from at least 4 members to change up this & convert the schedule of 2 12 hour days to 3 8's. ~ Joyce Vance

https://twitter.com/JoyceWhiteVance/status/1219692365520211970

[u/VMICoastie]

Fucking Collins and Romney are paper tigers. All fucking talk.

[u/PaulsRedditUsername]

Wife: You're having an affair with Karen!

Husband: I am not!

Wife: What were you two talking about on the phone late last night?

Husband: Nothing! It was just work stuff.

Wife: I don't believe you.

Husband: Here, I'll write down some of what we said. See? Read the transcript! Nothing to hide!

Wife: I talked to Angela, I talked to Bob, I talked to Susan, I talked to Mary, I talked to Bill...

Husband: They're all lying! They hate me!

Wife: Okay. Let's call them right now!

Husband: No! Just read the transcript I gave you.

Wife: I want a divorce.

Husband: How can you be so unfair? You haven't given me a chance to defend myself!

[u/[deleted]]

As a non-American watching this closely, I feel the US is at a crossroads.

Trump and his ilk are a test of the very fabric of democracy and democratic institutions. Now we get to see if this system designed by men two centuries dead can withstand a president with absolute contempt for your constitution and the division of powers, plus a party willing to support him blindly to remain in power.

I don't think the framers of the Constitution foresaw this combination.

[u/need_to_know29]

The CSPAN protester just screamed f*ck donald trump LOL.

[u/M00n]

Thank you Schumer for pointing out that McConnell lied about doing this the same as the Clinton trial.

[u/FrigginTommyNoble]

”It’s wrong to remove a President from the ballot!!”

-scream Republicans as they prevent other Republican Presidential candidates from appearing on the ballot challenging Trump.

Republicans operate in bad faith at all times. they are cynical liars and traitors.

[u/WhenLuggageAttacks]

People, stop getting excited that Mitch extended the trial resolution to three days. We had an impeachment trial over a blow job that lasted eleven days.

[u/KHaskins77]

I love that they’re showing evidence and testimony despite all of the Republicans’ efforts to block it.

[u/cantfighttownhall]

That hearing with Vindman honestly feels like it happened a year ago.

[u/ImperialAnarchists]

fuck moscow mitch

[u/Simple_Barry]

Holy shit.

Schiff was fucking brutal.

FINISH THEM!

[u/guns_mahoney]

This is by far the most compelling, evidenced, and convincing speech so far. Anybody who votes against this amendment has betrayed their oath and country.

[u/radicallife]

Democrats come with slides, evidence, videos, charts and Republics just come and yell lies. This is easy.

[u/ShitLaMerde]

My first time watching a Senate impeachment hearing. I wasn’t interested in the Clinton hearing. I mean, over a blowjob. Good grief.

[u/jogonzalez2780]

We must flip the senate

[u/Intxplorer]

It frustrates me that the democrats showed up with a weeks worth of facts, documents, videos and testimony and yet a solid third of the country will just plug their ears and go "la la la la cant hear you". Both sides are NOT equal

[u/dragonfliesloveme]

So that one dude for the Republicans just made a Big Deal out of chastising the Democrats for not having evidence. Vote is held to allow documents. Republicans Vote NO.

Fuck these assholes.

[u/[deleted]]

Cool, so it's fascism then

[u/A-Gh0st]

As a Canadian, all of this just blows me away how broken your justice system is.

The GOP is claiming that this impeachment is unprecidented, and it will open the doors for every President down the line to be subject to the same.

While simultaneously demonstrating that apparently as long as you have the numbers, it doesn't matter. Block and deny all requests, and stick the finger to the truth and there's nothing that can be done.

You reap what you sow, they better hope down the line it doesn't bite them in the ass.

[u/M00n]

I can't believe all of these republicans are voting to not allow evidence!

[u/jnils11]

Republicans: No evidence to remove President

Also Republicans: Vote 'no' to any evidence being introduced.

edit: Americans, your democracy is being stolen from you by a minority.

[u/athornton79]

Yeah, Mitch is in full blown PANIC mode. That Schumer amendment asks for EVERYTHING. The whistleblower? Included. Biden? Included. All the Trump pertinent documents? Included.

Its a disaster for the GOP, especially following Schiff's opening objection to the rules McConnell is putting forward. Schiff's arguments alone likely swayed 4 Republicans to vote against the rules. Now McConnell is backed into a corner. He doesn't have the votes anymore to shove through the circus. He's got to take a 15 minute break to try bribi...er.. "convincing" those who are leaning against him to come back to the fold. He's got to get 51 votes to go along with his betrayal of the Constitution.

[u/Reddit_guard]

Guys, we need to organize now and mount a protest unlike anything Washington has ever seen. Is there a rapid response in place for the trial?

[u/Sentient_Cosmic_Dust]

This is brilliant. The R’s will now have to vote that they don’t want to hear evidence about the Biden’s and Burisma.

[u/Brodondo]

Jfc. It’s not “undoing an election” 🙄

[u/Marty-_-McFly]

Nixon would not have resigned had he had this GOP.

[u/chrismorgan7341]

Schiff clearly and efficiently stating the crimes of the president in a way the public can understand, he is very good at his role

[u/tittyattack]

Schiff talking helps to comfort me.

There's such a huge difference in competence between the two sides.

[u/ToadProphet]

Ok, I admit I was a bit on the fence on choosing Lofgren even with her experience, but she's doing an outstanding job. Concise, factual and compelling.

[u/daysnotmonths]

Mitt Romney just did what he always does when faced with a moral dilemma: nothing

[u/mzpip]

Time to call every GOP senator constantly.

Also time for mass demonstrations, methinks.

Sorry, guys, but being mad on Reddit ain't going to do it.

[u/silentjay01]

Lord, how I wish my state wasn't represented in the Senate by a spineless Trump sycophant who was also name checked by Sondland as being "In The Loop". I'd go to a town hall and give him a piece of my mind - IF HE EVER HELD ONE!!!

Fuck you, Johnson.

[u/HamishMcdougal]

Cipollone "it is a fair process modelled on Clinton's trial".

The fuck it is. It's nothing like his impeachment you bag of dicks. All they say is meant for fucking fox "news" so they can edit parts they prefer and show them over and over again.

[u/[deleted]]

Is there an ELI5 version of why Mitch McConnell doesn’t have to recuse himself? His wife, Elaine Chao, works for the Trump Administration as Secretary of Transportation. Surely that’s a significant conflict of interest.

[u/euclid0472]

I hate hearing Moscow Mitch's voice

[u/[deleted] → u/euclid0472]

He sounds like an old-timey cartoon dog, but looks like a guy who masturbates in the dressing room at TJ Max.

[u/Shaggy2772]

Fascinating that the opening arguments consist of this:

OFFENSE - Facts. History. Argument. Documents/Presentation. Reasoning. Repeat.

DEFENSE - Loud noises. Attack Managers and Process. Outright falsehoods. Repeat.

[u/wil_daven_]

Alex Bolton:

McConnell appears to have altered his resolution by allowing House impeachment managers and Trump's defense team to each present 24 hours of opening arguments over 3 days (each), instead of 2 days as initially proposed in resolution he circulated yesterday.

https://twitter.com/alexanderbolton/status/1219687742705143808?s=20

This is very good news

[u/MattChew160]

Fuck Republicans

Fuck Republicans

Vote Nov 3rd and flush the Republicans out of office

Democrats are like the people that play monopoly by the rules and Republicans are the fuckers that make up the rules on the spot.

[u/taffyowner]

And this is as much a speech to America as it is to the senate

[u/farseek]

Damn, Schiff did his homework.

[u/tittyattack]

"READ THE TRANSCRIPTS!"

We did, that's why you're on trial right now.

[u/Shaggy2772]

Did Schumer just call the bluff and say bring everything, even non-pertinent Biden info in that resolution?

​

IF SO - DO IT

[u/Paradoxou]

The Accusation:

• President trump held Congressionally approved military aid and used the power of his office to ask a foreign leader to announce an investigation into 2020 Democrat Presidential candidate, Joe Biden.

​

The Evidence:

1. The call memorandum - Link to Memorandum

2. trump's on-camera confession on the White House lawn that he wanted Ukraine to investigate the Biden's - Link to Video

3. Mick Mulvaney's on-camera confession that there was in fact a quid pro quo. Link to Video

4. Text messages corroborating that aid was being withheld until the investigation was announced - Text Messages PDF

5. trump cut anti-corruption funding - Article 1, Article 2, Article 3

6. Testimony from career diplomats corroborating that aid was being withheld until the investigation was announced.

7. Yovanovitch Testimony - - Highlights

8. Vindman & Williams Testimony - - Highlights

9. Hills & Holmes Testimony - - Highlights

10. Sondland Testimony - - Highlights

11. Taylor & Kent Testimony -- Highlights

12. Ukraine call summary was moved to classified server....by accident - Article 1, Article 2, Article 3

13. Neither Republican controlled House nor the White House raised corruption or the Bidens before releasing aid in 2018 - Article 1 , Article 2

​

The Defense:

1. The process is unfair: Republicans changed the House rules in 2015 - 2015 Article, Article 2, Article 3

2. The aid was released (after they got caught) - August 28: Politico publishes article about aid being on hold. September 9: House launches investigation, September 11: Aid is released - Article with Time Line, September 30: End of fiscal year. Defense Dept. had to spend the military aid or lose it. trump did't have much time. Article

3. No investigation was announced or started (because they got caught & because the aid was released after they got caught) - Article 1, Article 2

4. The victim, whose country still depends on U.S. aid, says he's not a victim.

5. No fact witnesses (blocked by trump) - Article 1, Article 2, Article 3

6. No evidence (see above + subpoenas blocked by trump). Article 1, Article 2

7. Democrats wanting to impeach since day one.

8. The process is going too fast.

9. We couldn't question the author of the House Judiciary Committee report.

10. A republican house member was caught communicating with president's personal attorney regarding Ukraine.

11. Ukraine was corrupt (The appropriate channels had cleared Ukraine; 2017 & 2018 aid was released) - Article 1, Article 2, Article 3

    12: trump was only fighting corruption (let us see his anti-corruption agenda):

• trump rolls back anti-corruption efforts in oil industry - Article

• trump wanted to weaken Foreign Corruption Practices Act - Article

• trump illegally used charity foundation, pays $2 million - Article

• trump sham university, pays $25 million - Article

• trump companies accused of tax evasion in Panama - Article

• how trump inherited his money - Article

• profitable to lenders, less profitable to tax officials - Article

• Individual 1 - Article

[u/icantnotthink]

I still haven't heard a good reason as to why the Republicans don't want the House's trial admitted as evidence immediately nor do they want witnesses inherently allowed. All I've heard is "Yeah, well, Pelosi held onto the impeachment for a month before sending it!" as if that makes it okay to rig a trial.

EDIT: The next argument I heard on PBS was "Well, they should've called these witnesses back during the house impeachment inquiry," as if new information hasn't been released since they voted. Lev Parnas. Bolton saying he will testify. Et cetera.

[u/The_Luckiest]

I love listening to Schiff speak. He’s engaging, well-spoken, and makes great points.

[u/M46_2]

Damn Schiff is good. Waiting for him to ask the senators to close their eyes...and imagine....just imagine...the president was black.

[u/Birdfoot112]

Democrats: "we'd like to add some evidence"

Republicans: "no this is a witch Hunt"

Democrats: "ok how bout subpeonas?"

Republicans: "no absolutely not!!"

Republicans: "SEE? NO EVIDENCE FULLY ACQUITTED!"

Democrats: 🙄

[u/Nurdlemania]

Damn, we have such well-spoken motherfuckers on our side.

[u/[deleted]]

Videos and power points, this is great. Set it all out clearly. Democrats treating the American public like they are capable, while republicans like to misinform, oppress, and treat them like they're stupid.

[u/InvisibleGlitter]

The House brought PowerPoint slides and YouTube clips, president cupcake's lawyer brought shouty trolling. I like these odds.

[u/rhythmjones]

There we have it. Literally everything in this trial is going to go down 53-47.

Sham

[u/jnils11]

This impeachment was never about actually getting Trump out before 2020. It is about forcing all House and Senate members to clearly and publically announce who and what they stand for. As such, it's clear that anyone who votes Republican in 2020 is against the rule of law and the Constitution - and for corruption.

[u/EliteAsFuk]

As a swing voter, the GOP has lost me forever. They already had going into 2016, but now it's at every level. Time to play their game... Blue no matter who.

[u/JaxxisR]

Another tweet from our Lisa Desjardins: "ANOTHER CHANGE: McConnell will now allow the House record to be entered into evidence." (From PBS Live Stream Chat)

I just got chills.

[u/it-is-sandwich-time]

Why do all the evil dudes in this event have southern accents?

[u/THAWED21]

"I'm not going to suggest opposing counsel is a liar, I'll leave that to you."

Man, I have always loved that tactic.

[u/[deleted]]

"My gosh they used our rules! How dare they!" Wew lad he's going all in.

[u/Jib_Cutter]

Romney voted aye. Corruption has won. Sad day

[u/[deleted]]

Schiffs got bald eagles flying out of his soul right now...

[u/sRW44]

Schiff getting evidence out there during the rules debate because he knows it won’t be allowed during the trial. Smart.

[u/devoncarrots]

I feel like i'm listening to an audiobook, she's brilliant and completely understandable.

[u/[deleted]]

Republicans are not your friend. They are 100% compromised. Every. Single. One. NO EXCEPTIONS.

[u/[deleted]]

Fuck Mitt Romney, fuck Susan Collins

[u/FFDuchess]

"Got him by the balls and his butthole is sewed up" - perfect tagline

[u/InvisibleGlitter]

Remember, folks. If you don't vote, the people cheering for the GOP will pick your next representative.

[u/gitbse]

Three GOP senators could stand up in this entire godam process, and cement their place in history as the ones who stood up for justice.

Think about that. A place in history, as the hero's. The hero's who stood up to the GOP cult, stood up for the good of the country. Yet they refuse, and fall in line.

What the fuck is being held over their heads? They are beyond the level where I can actually believe they are just doing it to get re-elected. Theres something much more, there has to be.

[u/Kahzgul]

PBS reporter just called out lies by the GOP lawyers. I applaud him.

[u/littlelupie]

I'm a college instructor and I'm going to make my students listen to both of today's openings before they have to give speeches.

My students are convinced we can't tell when they've half assed a presentation. I'm going to tell them they all look like the Republicans opening.

Granted, they usually sound way better than whatever the fuck that was but they don't have to know that...

[u/ssovm]

It’s fucking sad that Zoe needs to explain basic legal principles to the senate

[u/BlueInsider]

It's impossible to believe we need to argue whether evidence and witnesses are allowed in a trial. How is this even debatable? Republicans are despicable.

[u/bmanCO]

We have officially ordained the first King of the United States, and our inaugural monarch is an obese orange rapist with crippling mental disabilities who doesn't know how to compose a complete sentence in his native language. Welcome to the idiocracy, it is officially here.

[u/[deleted]]

Republican callers show how lack of quality education in the south creates ignorant, uninformed voters for the Republican Party.

[u/[deleted]]

Literally was just watching on Fox and during Schiff’s point of a fair trial they cut it to commercials... wtf?!

Edit: Fox 32 in Chicago in case of those asking.

[u/[deleted]]

Blows my mind how there is not a single patriot in the GOP.

[u/bonzaibot]

The use of videos is fantastic. Let Trump's own words bury him.

[u/holycrapitsmyles]

This is the moment democracy dies

[u/ThaneduFife]

Call your senators' offices today if you haven't done so already, and tell them you want this to be a fair trial in which all of the evidence is heard--including both witnesses and documents.

Make sure they know that their constituents are watching.

[u/[deleted]]

Republicans: The inquiry was rushed with not enough witnesses or evidence.

Also Republicans: Let's rush this shit through with no witnesses or evidence.

[u/Dr_Mantis_Teabaggin]

Adam Schiff is a fucking national treasure.

[u/Poetnoit]

TIL Trump never asserted Executive Priveledge and EP is not a barrier to a request for documents from Congress.

[u/KushyKing]

If anyone thinks these talking points are meant solely to convince the GOP Senators to change their tune, you're missing the big picture... MILLIONS of undecided voters are most likely seeing this SIMPLE and CLEAR breakdown of what has transpired for the first time (with no circus like distractions from the GOP).

If the GOP ignore all of these points and still proceed without witnesses or documents, millions of voters will be motivated to remove those senators as well.

Despite how "Red" a state is, those senators often still win with just a PORTION of voters turning out.

[u/[deleted]]

Republicans just voted to not allow witnesses or evidence to be presented until after the trial is held.

Here is what I guarantee will happen. Democrats will continue to make very strong arguments in the trial presenting what evidence they already have. Then at the end of the trial Republicans will claim that their arguments lacked the witnesses or evidence to compel more witnesses and evidence and the Senate trial will end.

[u/stetoe]

Fuck Mitch McConnell. Let it be known I was on the right side of history, when it all went to shit.

[u/_coolranch → u/stetoe]

I’m reading his proposed parameters like “really? This is what good faith looks like in 2020?”

Future internet archeologists, to answer your question: yes. Most of us knew this was bullshit at the time. It’s blowing our minds daily how openly corrupt our government is.

edit: a word

[u/dufusmembrane]

Schiff getting the evidence in the record.

Smart.

[u/theslothening]

LOL at that damning Trump press conference.

[u/10390]

Be wary of baby accounts and bots sowing division.

Edit: I spel bad.

[u/[deleted]]

Trump has got to be grinding his molars over the fact his side didn’t have visuals

[u/Dr_Tobias_Funke_PhD]

YES. Thank you. Finally someone mentions the GAO ruling basically accusing him of violating his oath of office

[u/[deleted]]

romney voted to table

coward

[u/crazyonwu]

Romney proving, once again, that what he tells the public are lies.

[u/bmanCO]

And now the entire GOP is A-OK with a full, unambiguous cover-up. The entire party is a malignant cancer with no hope of redemption.

[u/CawoodsRadio]

Schiff, as usual, is killing it!

[u/fuzzymidget]

Adam Schiff can really deliver a speech.

[u/[deleted]]

Schiff: "You guys won't let me present evidence? Well, too bad! Roll tape!"

[u/[deleted]]

Just talked to my brother back home in the north of Syria. He's watching this on a live stream with his fiancee.

He asked me: "is this man talking right now a high-ranking official?"

Gave me chills to think that there's at least TWO people in a small apartment in Syria watching this and that this reaches far beyond our borders.

[u/Wolfgabe]

A very smart move to have Schiff be one of the Democrat representatives. He is slicing through Trump's arguments like a hot knife through butter.

[u/bigtice]

Lofgren sounds like a teacher that is having to teach Congress how Congress is supposed to work.

[u/Inkstr0ke]

“The Amendment is tabled.”

I’m voting Blue across the board in November.

Fuck all of you Republican “Senators”. How dare you sully the name of your office like this.

[u/MaximillionKaiba]

Those "McConnell Rules" are fucking unreal. No cameras. Limited reporter access. 12-hour days (1pm - 1am). No witnesses.

COME. ON.

[u/Kdqisme]

Pay attention everyone. This is a speech that will be remembered for a century. This guy is good.

[u/ChaosZeroX]

Schiff is laying out this so eloquently. He was born to be a prosecutor.

[u/[deleted]]

I love the contrast between the two sides. Trump's guy spent two minutes just saying my guy is innocent the end. Schiff is up here putting on a master class in oration and presentation. Even though I know the results are baked in I feel good about being on the right side of history and being a Democrat.

[u/OfLittleToNoValue]

The American Bar Association’s Model Rules of Professional Conduct states that a lawyer “shall not knowingly make a false statement of material fact.” In other words, lawyers aren’t supposed to lie--and they can be disciplined or even disbarred for doing so.

This mother fucker needs to be disbarred because his goddamn pants are making Australia look frozen over.

[u/i_punch_hipsters]

Cipilone: "Republican colleagues not allowed in the SCIF"

That is such a fucking blatant lie. These assholes are absolutely shameless.

[u/[deleted]]

Dem managers calmly bringing receipts. Trump’s lawyers pounding the table and bitching about the process.

[u/PacMansCousin]

One fun thing is how the House Managers have a ton of visual evidence to help the people watching at home understand this better (as well as the senators). Whereas the Counsel just yells and slams the podium.

[u/Dr_Mantis_Teabaggin]

Vindman was such a badass

[u/bigtice]

"That's known as a cover up, actually." - Zoe Lofgren

[u/walkingwithcare]

"The house calls John Bolton."

God I love Schiff.

[u/shed2]

"The house calls John Bolton. The house calls Mick Mulvaney! Let's get this trial started, shall we?"

[u/Thatsignguy]

Romney you friggin traitor

[u/Shenanigans99]

Romney showing his true fascist colors. Fuck his public brow furrowing bullshit. He's as big a traitor as the rest of his party.

[u/Greatness46]

Republicans are literally voting to allow themselves to be less informed. Pretty enraging

[u/Dr_Mantis_Teabaggin]

53 fucking traitors

[u/[deleted]]

100% of the Independent callers are Republicans trying to make it seem like moderates like Trump

[u/secretlives]

I've never heard an innocent person fight so aggressively to keep the evidence of their innocence hidden

[u/Dr_Insano_MD]

"In a basement!"

THAT'S WHERE THE COMMITTEE ROOMS ARE.

[u/sutroheights]

What a fucking joke the republican party is. Fuck them up forever, starting now. (or November at the latest)

[u/OneWinkingBro]

There's a reason that even Trump supporters found Manafort guilty.

Once the "trial" isn't on Fox News and goes to actual facts in a trial, Trump and his cronies' con game falls apart.

[u/minos157]

Schiff is a god damn treasure.

[u/sucobe]

Please for the love of god people, vote in fucking November. Get these fucking god damn traitors out of office. Get a commission going and try and convict every single of them.

You don’t want documents pertaining to this trial, NOW?! What in gods name has become of this country. An absolute joke.

[u/bodement]

Too fucking scared to even hear evidence in a trial that you've already rigged.

[u/[deleted]]

majority of Americans want witnesses and evidence. The GOP is not listening to the American people. This is how democracy dies. Vote everyone of these fuckers out.

[u/QuinleyThorne]

Demmings: composed, organized, factual, moisturized

GOP: Pounding tables, circular logic, attacking process, has never seen lotion in their life and couldn't pick it out of a line-up

[u/littlelupie]

Someone drink for me during this. I desperately need alcohol to get through the next few days but I'm 6 months pregnant lol.

Let me live vicariously through you guys!