WASHINGTON (AP) – Opening arguments in the Senate impeachment process for Donald Trump over the Capitol riot will begin the week of Feb. 8, the first time a former president has faced such charges after leaving office.
Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer announced the schedule Friday night after reaching an agreement with Republicans, who had pushed for a postponement to allow Trump to organize his legal team and prepare a defense of the single charge of incitement to rebellion.
The February start date also gives the Senate more time to confirm President Joe Biden’s cabinet appointments and consider its proposed $ 1.9 trillion COVID aid package – top priorities of the new White House agenda that would be seen during the trial. can get stuck.
“We all want to leave this terrible chapter in our nation’s history behind,” Schumer said of the deadly siege of the Capitol on January 6 by a mob of pro-Trump supporters.
“But healing and unity will come only when there is truth and accountability. And that’s what this trial will deliver. “
House speaker Nancy Pelosi will send the impeachment article late Monday, with senators sworn in as jurors on Tuesday. But the opening arguments go to February.
The process of impeaching Trump would be the first of a US president no longer in office, an undertaking that his Republican allies in the Senate say is meaningless and possibly even unconstitutional. Democrats say they should hold Trump to account, even as they pursue Biden’s legislative priorities, because of the seriousness of what took place – a violent attack on the US Congress aimed at destroying elections.
If Trump is convicted, the Senate could vote to prevent him from ever holding office again, potentially increasing his chances of a political comeback.
The urgency for Democrats to hold Trump accountable was complicated by the need to establish Biden’s administration and quickly begin work on his coronavirus relief package.
“The more time we have to get started … the better,” Biden said in brief remarks to reporters Friday.
Republicans were eager to delay the trial by distancing themselves from the shocking events of the siege and the votes that will test their loyalty to the former president, who continues to attract voters’ attention.
Negotiations between Schumer and Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell have been complicated as the two are also in talks about a power-sharing deal before the Senate, which is split 50-50 but is under democratic control because Vice President Kamala Harris is considered a tie-breaking functions. to vote.
McConnell had suggested delaying the start and welcomed the deal.
“Republicans are seeking to ensure that the Senate’s next steps respect the rights and due process of former President Trump, the Senate institution and the office of the presidency,” said McConnell spokesman Doug Andres. “That goal has been achieved.”
Pelosi said Friday that House Impeachment’s nine managers, or prosecutors, are “ready to make their case against Trump.” Trump’s team will have had the same amount of time since the House’s impeachment vote to prepare, Pelosi said.
Democrats say they can get through the process quickly, possibly without witnesses, because lawmakers have witnessed the uprising firsthand.
One of the managers, California Rep. Ted Lieu said on Friday that Democrats prefer to work on the policy now, but “we can’t just ignore” what happened on January 6.
“This was an attack on our Capitol by a violent mob,” said Lieu in an interview with The Associated Press. “It was an attack on our nation, initiated by our commander in chief. We need to address that and make sure it never happens again. ”
Trump, who told his supporters to “fight like hell” just before invading the Capitol two weeks ago and breaking the electoral vote count, is still assembling his legal team.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki deferred to Congress on Friday over the timing of the trial and declined to say whether Biden thinks Trump should be convicted. But she said lawmakers can simultaneously discuss and hold hearings on Biden’s coronavirus relief package.
“We don’t think it can be delayed or wait, so they will have to find a path forward,” Psaki said of the virus relief. “He is convinced they can.”
Democrats would need the support of at least 17 Republicans to condemn Trump, a high bar. While most Republican senators condemned Trump’s actions that day, there seem to be many less willing to condemn.
A handful of Senate Republicans have expressed their openness to – but not commitment – to conviction. But most have come to Trump’s defense over impeachment, saying they believe a trial will divide and question the legality of bringing a president to trial after he leaves office.
South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham, a close Trump ally who has helped him find lawyers, said on Friday that there is “a very compelling constitutional case” over whether Trump can be impeached after his term in office – a claim the Democrats reject and say there is sufficient legal precedent. Graham also suggested that Republicans will argue that Trump’s words on Jan. 6 were not a legal “incitement.”
“Based on the facts, they will be able to set up a defense, so the most important thing is to give him the opportunity to prepare and conduct the trial in an orderly manner, and hopefully the Senate will reject the idea of prosecuting presidents after they have left office, ”said Graham.
Other Republicans had stronger words, suggesting there should be no trial at all. Wyoming Senator John Barrasso said Pelosi is sending a message to Biden that “my hatred and vitriol against Donald Trump is so strong that I will keep even you and your cabinet from getting anything done.” Wisconsin Senator Ron Johnson suggested Democrats prefer “revenge” over national security while Biden tries to establish his government.
McConnell, who said this week that Trump “ provoked ” his supporters before the riot, has not said how he will vote. He said Senate Republicans “strongly believe that we need a full and fair trial in which the former president can defend himself and the Senate can properly consider factual, legal and constitutional issues.”
Trump, the first president to be impeached twice, is at a disadvantage compared to his initial impeachment trial, in which he had the full resources of the White House office to defend him. Graham helped Trump hire South Carolina attorney Butch Bowers after members of its former legal teams indicated that they do not intend to join the new venture.
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Associated Press writers, Aamer Madhani in Washington, Meg Kinnard in Columbia, South Carolina, and Jill Colvin in West Palm Beach, Florida, contributed to this report.