The Hill: McConnell says he won't block an impeachment trial

[StarfishSaver]

McConnell says he can’t completely prevent an impeachment trial

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell reiterated on Monday that he is bound by Senate rules to take up articles of impeachment if they are presented by the House.

“Under the Senate rules, we’re required to take it up if the House does go down that path, and we’ll follow the Senate rules,” McConnell said. “It’s a Senate rule related to impeachment that would take 67 votes to change.”

That makes clear that he does not expect to have a path to use the “nuclear option” to set a new precedent to stop a trial with just a simple majority, effectively bypassing the rules.

Speaking on CNBC, the Kentucky Republican was dismissive of speculation that he might try to change the rules to stop the impeachment process.

“The Senate impeachment rules are very clear,” McConnell said.

https://www.rollcall.com/news/congress/mcconnell-says-cant-completely-prevent-impeachment-trial

[Buckeyeblue]

1. Is that a signal to Trump?

[tritsofme]

2. As I mentioned in another thread, he has specifically not foreclosed the option of an early motion

to dismiss, before the House is able to present its case.

The Senate will surely face such a vote, at this point I’m just not sure it’s realistic to expect four GOP senators to allow the trial to move forward, but at least their obstruction would be on the record.

[ProudMNDemocrat]

3. Does Moscow Mitch see the writing on the wall that he cannot block an Impeachment trial??

Being that he is joined at the hip, along with Leningrad Lindsey, with Trump and he will take them both down?

The phone lines are opened.

[underpants]

4. Wow Mitch

[Midnight Writer]

5. Moscow Mitch's word carries about as much weight as Trump's.

[Buckeyeblue]

6. Could it be that the only way to get out from under the name Moscow Mitch

Would be to convict Trump in the Senate? Everyone would sing his praises. He would be hailed an American hero for putting country before party. He would be hailed a hero of bipartisanship.

By the way, we know this would be bullshit. But the media would build him up. That's what they do. It would be the perfect way for him to let the Democrats do all the work, so he can take all the credit.

[Baitball Blogger]

7. Why is this even relevant?

He doesn't have any power over the House, and it's the House's right to perform an investigation that could ultimately end in impeachment.

[TwilightZone]

9. Because he's talking about the trial, not the impeachment.

[Baitball Blogger]

10. Okay. "Impeachment trial vs impeachment investigation/hearing."

Senate vs House.

Got it, thank you.

[Wellstone ruled]

8. What does Leningrad Lindsey have to say?

Afterall,he is Moscow Mitch's message Boy with Trump.

[gab13by13]

11. What are we supposed to discuss in this thread?

The Senate can set the ground rules for the trial but once the trial starts it is presided over by Chief Justice Roberts.

Won't it look bad for Republicans if they put in rules that allows them to end the trial at any point in time?

I'm confused by this article.

[TwilightZone]

12. There have been rumors that McConnell wouldn't hold a trial, would let it die, etc.

This is just confirmation that that's not an option.

[uponit7771]

13. +1