The Senate is set to begin, and likely finish, Trump’s second impeachment trial this week. Everyone from Democrats, Republicans, and the media acknowledge Trump will not be convicted, so why are we all being subjected to a dog and pony show?
Summary
Former President Trump’s history-making second impeachment trial over his alleged role in inciting the Jan. 6th attack on the Capitol will begin in the Senate this week.
- Though we’re just hours away from the Senate trial starting, Senate leaders are still debating and working out basic details like opening arguments and cross examination.
- Politico has reported both Republicans and Democrats in the Senate are looking at a speedy trial, with Democrats wanting no witnesses called and Republicans focusing on the constitutionality of convicting a president no longer in office.
- Some predict the trial could be completed by Friday. Trump is not expected to be convicted.
- If it goes longer, the Senate will take a break from Friday evening to Saturday evening to allow a lawyer for Trump to observe the Jewish Sabbath.
- The New York Times highlighted a Republican attorney who agrees with Democrats that an impeachment trial can occur after the impeached has left office while separate reporting emphasized the video-heavy, made-for-tv strategy Democrats will lean on after learning their lesson (emphasis mine) from the first impeachment trial.
- CNN interviewed former White House Communications Director Alyssa Farah who implored former President Trump and his legal team to “not relitigate January 6th” and focus on the precedent a conviction after leaving office would set.
- In a long article characterizing Republican positions on the trial as “distraction tactics”, Vox agreed that the outcome of the trial is not in doubt.
- OAN’s coverage of the impending trial leaned heavily on Republican arguments that Trump was exercising his First Amendment right to free speech when talking about the 2020 election results.
- Newsmax reported on lawyer Alan Dershowitz’ belief that congressional Democrats are making a “tactical and moral mistake” with the second impeachment trial, and that they should take Biden’s “unity” message to heart.
- Townhall.com emphasized an interview Kentucky Senator Rand Paul gave Fox News Sunday, who argued, in part, that Chief Justice Roberts’ decision not to preside over the Senate trial is “a signal that the entire trial is unconstitutional” given the Constitution’s straightforward requirements on presidential impeachment.
- RedState reported on Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s demeaning treatment of a reporter, which in all likelihood would have been called a direct attack on the free press had a Republican done it, when she called a reporter’s question about impeachment “a waste of time.”
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© Dallas Gerber, 2021
