McConnell May Change Rules Over Impeachment Delay

[RandySF]

“Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has signed onto a resolution by Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) seeking to change the rules of the Senate to dismiss articles of impeachment if they are not transmitted within 25 days of their approval — in this case, January 12,” Axios reports.

“The constitutionality of such a move is not clear.”

The Hill: “Changing the rules would either require a two-thirds vote or for Republicans to deploy the ‘nuclear’ option.”


https://politicalwire.com/2020/01/09/mcconnell-may-change-senate-rules-over-impeachment-delay/

[Marie Marie]

1. I was waiting for McConnell to pull something like this.

He just changers the rules to suit his party. Then, we get that famous Turtle Smirk.

[dhill926]

2. they will do whatever they have to...

to protect the asshole and themselves. Anything. Question is....can they be stopped...

[NewJeffCT]

3. they'll deploy the nuclear option

and rely on their media dominance to distract people with other BS

[samnsara]

4. fine we will just impeach all over again..we NEEEEED to win the SENATE!!

[Rhiannon12866]

5. What an unmitigated partisan jerk.

[BKDem]

6. This is seriously fucked up.

McConnell isn't just a partisan hack. He's a fucking outlaw.

[standingtall]

7. The constitutionality seems pretty clear to me

this has to be unconstitutional. The house has the sole power of impeachment. If the the house doesn't formalize the process by sending articles over than the senate has no authority to have a real senate trial. The senate is only giving the power to conduct a trial after an impeachment, they don't have any authority over the impeachment itself. They can still have their fake trial, but when the house does send the articles over they should have to have another trial with the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court presiding over it.

[MichMan]

10. Are you suggesting that unless the articles are sent, there is no impeachment?

It appears that is what you are saying.

[Bayard]

14. I don't think the Senate can have a trial, without receiving the Articles from the House

No matter how much they bitch and moan.

[standingtall]

15. Isn't that what republicans were arguing a few weeks ago?

Seems like their trying to have it both ways now.

[gratuitous]

8. Typical of Republicans: Change the rules after the game has started

As if they didn't see articles of impeachment coming down the pike, they wait until the House has ratified articles and now they want to change the rules for trying the President.

Though, I suppose, if the Senate changes the rules after the House has passed the articles, the House can pull the articles already passed and re-convene an impeachment proceeding, because Republicans changed the game after it had already started. Further delay would send Trump right up the wall.

[kentuck]

9. Please, B'rer Rabbit, don't throw me in that briar patch...

Go ahead, Mitch.

Dismiss the Articles of Impeachment.

Nancy will pass them again with added evidence. No problem. Go ahead and pull your little stunt.

There are votes to impeach him again.

Nancy dares you.

[Scotch-Irish]

11. Oh wow. Make my day!!!

Just try some stupid shit like that. This country would be all over you, mcTurtle!

[Baitball Blogger]

12. Is there precedent for the House to withhold impeachment papers?

I believe the answer is yes.

[MichMan]

17. If precedent means it has happened before, then no.

The two other times that the president was impeached, that didnt occur. It happens so rarely though that there really isn't a lot of precedent to go by.

[uponit7771]

13. Moscow Mitch is going to change rules ... ANYWAY !! ...

[totodeinhere]

16. Of course he will if he can.

The fix was in from day one. We will only be able to get rid of Trump if we can defeat him in the Electoral College in November.