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U.S. Senate approves Trump impeachment trial plan, rejects Democrats on documents, witnesses

68 Comments
By Susan Cornwell and David Morgan

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68 Comments

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How can they even justify this to the American people as being fair when they are refusing to allow crucial evidence into the trial? Refusing to make those that have direct first hand knowledge testify will create a cloud over the Trump and the Senate. Even if he is not removed from office, this is in no way an exoneration.

12 ( +14 / -2 )

When one already knows the outcome, the popcorn doesnt taste quite the same!

7 ( +8 / -1 )

The morons continue to do everything in their power to silence the truth.

Pure and utter scum.

7 ( +12 / -5 )

The impeachment sham

Not a sham. It's done. Trump was impeached. As long as history is written, Trump will be identified as having been impeached. Reality, after all.

7 ( +10 / -3 )

@blacklabThat’s a huge risk for your side

Once again with the bifurcation: us - them; my side - yours. Keeping the #chan/Breitbart/RT memes alive in attempts to further fracture the long-divided US. Despots throughout history have used divide and conquer tactics to rule, and their followers parrot them. Never what's best for the country as a whole, only what's best for Trump and the globe's richest. With promises of down trickling on the rest.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

The scummy GOP will do anything to hide as much information as possible to protect their scumbag President. It's in their blood.

5 ( +9 / -4 )

the Hunter/Ukraine issue is going to have to be dealt with at some point anyway.

There is no Hunter/Ukraine issue. Just a convenient lie, sold by Donny and quickly bought up by idiot supporters.

4 ( +7 / -3 )

If I ever get arrested in good ole US of A, I sure hope I can get to choose the judge and witnesses. And I hope I can then dismiss the trial in 5 minutes.

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 force the White House to produce more documents and evidence

What are Trump and his bund hiding? Didn't he say his was the most transparent presidency ever?

3 ( +8 / -5 )

Democrats had accused McConnell of trying to rig a trial with proposed rules that they said would prevent witnesses from testifying and bar evidence gathered by investigators.

“Midnight” Mitch

About 70% of Americans have already concluded that a trial with no witnesses is a sham. And they will vote accordingly in Nov.

3 ( +6 / -3 )

This is just a sign of the breakdown of the once great USA. The future is China. Like it or not.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Regardless of the outcome of this farce the pubs are putting on, the world knows trump is a traitor, and this trial will prove that America is officially broken.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

What can you say? It's smells of a cover-up because it is a cover-up. By doing what they're doing, the Republicans have set a precedent which is going to come back one day and bite them on their behinds. They want to win at any cost. Let the Russians meddle in U.S. elections, use tax payer funded programs to extort and blackmail others to lie for you, treat the president like a king and give that president a crown and scepter, and on and on it goes. Is this really what you want?

It looks like the only good that might come out of this is that some of these senators from purple states who are blindly going along with this sham will lose in their bids for re-election. Meanwhile, if Trump should be the president for another 4 years, it wouldn't be very surprising to see him impeached a second time for something else, maybe something worse, the next time.

Anyway, this is a very, very bad precedent the Republicans are establishing. Let the history books show it and boldly display the names of these weak and unpatriotic senators who made it possible. Also, the U.S. seriously needs to term limits to remind these senators about what their job entails. What these senators and congressional representatives do is a community, state and national service, but they behave as if it's a lifetime career for feathering their nests.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

We all know that the pubs will never remove Trump, and that their primary focus is to turn impeachment into a sham trial, rather than exposing corruption and ensuring the country is not a banana republic.

Make them put their objections to justice on the record. This gives the Democrats clear examples of how the pubs hate America, hate Americans, and are treasonous to the depths of their souls.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

The GOP will never agree to witnesses. Their job is to hide as much information as possible.

2 ( +6 / -4 )

We agree to witnesses. Just not yours.

Of course. If you agreed to the witnesses on the other team, it would require transparency, ethics, and a dedication to stamping out corruption. These are all antithetical to today's pubs.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

So I guess everyone supporting the impeachment believes the Dems that there is a war going on between Ukraine and Russia. Can we call witnesses for that?

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Grand jury to hand down Ukrainian related indictment ,related to treat you US Ukrainian Ambassador Google Robert Hyde Stalking

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Never in the history of the USA has there been a group of Americans who hate America as much as the Republican Party.

Every single one of them is treasonous.

1 ( +6 / -5 )

Correction ,indictment related too Trump associates,threat to US Ambassador too Ukraine, Google Robert Hyde Stalking

1 ( +1 / -0 )

As many as it takes. As long as they get the 'pubs anti-American treason on record, it will be thrown in their faces on the campaign.

With 80+% of Americans now polling that they think the Republicans are stifling the truth, their ridiculous attempts to grasp onto power at any cost will result in them losing it in November.

Even people who voted Trump out of disappointment with Obama are not willing to accept the Republicans stifling of the truth. and actively working to enable a corrupt president.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

Call Bolton - who cares? There was no crime to tell about.

How would you know that when you haven't heard Bolton's testimony?

Silly Republicans.

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Bass:. As if the Dems

As if the Repubs.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

Black: We agree to witnesses. Just not yours

So McConnell agreed to witnesses?!?!

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Of course they did, because the GOP is Nothing but treasonous cowards. Bottom line. Same as their supporters.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

bass4funk: "Let the Dems call Bolton or Mulvaney and then Mitch can call the Biden’s and even the whistleblower, betcha the Dems won’t allow it. And if they don’t, the Republicans shouldn’t allow the Dems to hear witnesses, either we all play fair or nothing at all."

I bet they would allow it, knowing full well the chief justice can himself disallow the witness as irrelevant to the case, which is far more likely with the Bidens, since they are completely irrelevant to Trump's crimes in terms of their personal actions. Whereas Bolton and Mulvaney have first-hand knowledge of what Trump said and did. That's why you guys are so scared to hear what they might say. And if you're not scared, why is Trump blocking them? Don't say "executive privelage", because that does not Apply here legally at all, and that's been proven.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Just listened to this Schiff guy bloviating for 40 minutes on Youtube According to this guy, the Ukraine is an "ally at war with Russia", and a "key security partner". Come again? Did anybody ask him about these absurd claims?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I'm fine with anyone being called, if the person has any relevance to Trump's innocent or guilt.

That wouldn't include Hunter Biden, since his innocence or guilt would do nothing to remove Trump's responsibility for his crimes.

You'll find that the Democrats have no problem with a fair trial.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

so who do liberals personally support as far as who is called we witnesses?

I'm ok with anyone who has relevance to Trump's innocence or guilt. Like Bolton.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I want to know more about this war between Russia and Ukraine that Schiff talked about. And when did the Ukraine became an "ally" in this war as he claims?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Nothing will take this guy down. If it didn't happen already it won't anytime soon.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Let the Dems call Bolton or Mulvaney and then Mitch can call the Biden’s and even the whistleblower, betcha the Dems won’t allow it.

Democrats are calling for witnesses directly involved in the subject matter of impeachment. This is not a trial on the Bidens and certainly isn't proper to expose a whistleblower, it is about the verification of the impeachment of the president.

It follows if he has nothing to hide, the Republicans would want the truth, and allow for witnesses to Trump's wrong doings concerning the Ukraine, but they obviously have such a problem with finding truth, it doesn't matter to them, anymore. As in the idea of putting Biden on the stand, it is the policy of the Republicans to continually have straw man arguments and fallacy of logic, ubiquitously, so they can follow the demagoguery of Trump, which is based on lies.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Let the Dems call Bolton or Mulvaney and then Mitch can call the Biden’s and even the whistleblower, betcha the Dems won’t allow it. And if they don’t, the Republicans shouldn’t allow the Dems to hear witnesses, either we all play fair or nothing at all.

What? Bring it on buddy! You can have the Whistleblower and both Biden's if we get Pence, Pompeo, Perry, Mulvaney, Duffy, Blair, and Esper. We's ask for Crazy Rudy too but know he'd have to plead the 5th since he's under federal investigation on 8 offenses.

There's no evidence the Whistleblower or the Biden's did anything wrong. But "All the President's Men" have been implicated by multiple people as being "in the loop" on the illegal shakedown of Ukraine - along with all kinds of other corruption (Hey Perry, explain those Ukraine oil and gas deals steered to your Texas buddies).

And if you're going to ask for the Biden's who have no relation to the impeachment articles, then we get to ask for Stormy and McDougall...

Deal?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The correct answer is All Witnesses Matter.

If we have any, we have all. That’s fairness.

If they aren’t “relevant” they show up, tell us their involvement, say under oath they didn’t do anything wrong and we move to the next one. Then later if we find they lied, perjury and jail.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

watching these dem loons, you almost want to feel pity for them. Put together a sham in the house, now still demanding this and that, but have no power. So somber and serious now. These idiots; cant be done with this fast enough. Who votes for such clowns?

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Since when is the Ukraine an "ally" and since when is Ukraine "at war with Russia"? What does Schiff know that we dont?

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

If I ever get arrested in good ole US of A, I sure hope I can get to choose the judge and witnesses. And I hope I can then dismiss the trial in 5 minutes.

If you can ever become the President you do have executive privileges awarded to you as the leader of the free world that every other person doesn’t have.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Schiff says that the House did seek Bolton's testimony and Bolton told the House "I'm not coming, and if you subpoena me I will sue you."  "He is represented by the same lawyer as Kupperman and he did sue us, so we knew he [Bolton] would make good on that threat," says Schiff. "But I can tell you he [Bolton] is willing to come now, if you're willing to hear it," Schiff adds.

Oh Adam are you now conspiring with Bolton too? how would you know this information? Just like you "told" us you had seen irrefutable evidence of Russian Collusion? this guy is a joke.

-2 ( +5 / -7 )

Ok now do the house investigation. How many witnesses did we get that we asked for? Do you want the whole story or not? This whole thing started at Biden and the whistleblower. Where are they?

Of course. If you agreed to the witnesses on the other team, it would require transparency, ethics, and a dedication to stamping out corruption.

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

Chuckie on his 3rd amendment now. I wonder how many of these he is going to bring to a vote and lose?

I say 5 as a guess.

-3 ( +4 / -7 )

Told liberals you might want to remind schiff to have some fairness, due process and allow some witnesses we wanted in his basement. He didn’t and here we are.

so White House, state department. OMB, department of energy, DHS, Conor McGregor, GAO, lots more amendments to come. Eventually the vote will be 52-48 for something and you can claim “victory”.

we know Collins or Romney or Murkowski will sooner or later will change sides on a vote.

-3 ( +3 / -6 )

The impeachment sham fails on its face for not meeting the constitutional requirements. Neither article forwarded refers to any crime whatsoever. It's a dem circus, but now it's going to come to an appropriately short dead end.

KAG2020!

-4 ( +5 / -9 )

I’m shocked! The MSM are really slipping. They’re not even covering this “big war” between Ukraine and Russia the Dems keep bringing up every other minute.

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

The poll said "witnesses" without specifying who.

I also want witnesses, so my answer is YES too. Hunter Biden, Joe Biden, Eric C, Alexandra Chalupa, Adam Schiff and his staff.

Doesnt mean people want your witnesses when they say "yes" they want witnesses. You had your time to subpoena anyone and anything, and Schiff blew it.

-4 ( +3 / -7 )

We agree to witnesses. Just not yours.

-4 ( +2 / -6 )

The debunked Ukraine scandal is no different than the baseless Russian collusion charge. It is simply the vehicle to overturn the election. The Dems have been trying to impeach Trump since the day after Hillary conceded back in 2016. There are multiple statements by numerous Dems to that effect. This is all an effort to influence the 2020 election.

But I am not sad about the witnesses yet. I still have hope they will call Hunter, Joe, and Ciaramella. Call Bolton - who cares? There was no crime to tell about.

-4 ( +2 / -6 )

Overwhelming evidence! Plenty to support impeaching a president. So much that when they get to trial they......say they need more evidence and witnesses?

so now they want to subpoena it. Once again they had subpoena power in the house to do that. Why didn’t they? Because having the courts deny them would have ruined their impeachment.

-5 ( +6 / -11 )

Schiff whining about unfairness and one sided rules was quite satisfying to watch after what he did for 6 weeks.

schumer amendment.....denied 53-47.

-6 ( +7 / -13 )

Not a sham. It's done.

Yea, it’s done, but you’re not going to convict or remove him, that’s done as well.

Trump was impeached. As long as history is written, Trump will be identified as having been impeached. Reality, after all.

Ouch, that hurts...I guess, but if saying it repeatedly over and over gives liberals some solace and a personal warm and fuzzy feeling and mentally therapeutic, good for them.

-6 ( +4 / -10 )

About 70% of Americans have already concluded that a trial with no witnesses is a sham. And they will vote accordingly in Nov.

Really? Who are these 70%? None of my family members were polled and their staunch voters. Which demographics? How many Republicans vs Democrats or Independents? What age group and how many minorities were polled?

-6 ( +3 / -9 )

Let the Dems call Bolton or Mulvaney and then Mitch can call the Biden’s and even the whistleblower, betcha the Dems won’t allow it. And if they don’t, the Republicans shouldn’t allow the Dems to hear witnesses, either we all play fair or nothing at all.

-6 ( +3 / -9 )

so who do liberals personally support as far as who is called we witnesses? List of names would be great. Can we have our witnesses too or do you only demand yours again?

-6 ( +3 / -9 )

There is no Hunter/Ukraine issue.

There is No Bolton/Mulvaney issue either.

Just a convenient lie, sold by Donny and quickly bought up by idiot supporters

I see. Lol

The scummy GOP will do anything to hide as much information as possible to protect their scumbag President. It's in their blood.

As if the Dems stool don’t stank! The very people that impeached this President and are trying to run him out of office and overturning the election and telling the people that voted for this President screw you have the audacity and are THE LAST people to call anyone scummy. ROFL!

-7 ( +3 / -10 )

Yes and to get your “impeached forever” story before Christmas you gave up any chance you might have had to get Trump removed.

You now find yourself at trial claiming on the first day first hour more evidence and witnesses.

Also Trump can use his acquittal to get re-elected. plus if biden wins, the Hunter/Ukraine issue is going to have to be dealt with at some point anyway.

Not like it’s going away. what if Joe gets the nomination then we find he or Hunter are actually guilty? That’s a huge risk for your side.

-8 ( +3 / -11 )

On the first day of the trial, Trump's chief legal defender attacked the case as baseless and a top Democratic lawmaker said there was "overwhelming" evidence of wrongdoing.

There seems to be a significant difference of opinion on whether or not the House Democrats actually, finally, found any evidence, let alone "overwhelming" evidence of wrongdoing.

JJ Jetplane - How can they even justify this to the American people as being fair when they are refusing to allow crucial evidence into the trial? Refusing to make those that have direct first hand knowledge testify will create a cloud over the Trump and the Senate.

LOL. I wonder how House Democrats justify their sham impeachment trial. The Democrat impeachment effort began before Trump was even sworn in to office. The House Democrats are simply trying to overturn the last Presidential election. And failing. Repeatedly. Unfortunately for Democrats, they have failed to actually make their impeachment case. That's why Democrats are demanding that the Senate now call for the witnesses that the House failed to provide.

-8 ( +1 / -9 )

This was the Dem narrative all day yesterday.....what are they hiding?

if they had subpoenaed instead of rushing to impeachment (so Nancy could then wait 33 days for her fancy pens to arrive), maybe you would have found something to spin. no time to wait! Urgent! they said.

you go to court and enforce your subpoena. Don’t withdraw it or never file it then whine.

-9 ( +4 / -13 )

All schiff had to do was subpoena it. How is it suppressed? schiff failed you.

The morons are trying to pretend trump is innocent by suppressing evidence.

-9 ( +4 / -13 )

There is nothing the Dems can say or a case to make that the public doesn’t already know about, even many people that don’t like Trump see this for what it is, a referendum on the last election and an attempt to overturn the last election and undermine the people that put him in office. We went 2 years of hundreds of witnesses over 500 and equally testimony, over 500 subpoenas, you had 19 Democrat Hillary donor supporting lawyers and some of the best in the legal world searched intensely every nook and cranny for anything they could find and they found nothing, nothing that constitutes reasons for an impeachment, Mueller did everything in his power and even with the testimony of Stormy, Cohen and so many other people, not a single bombshell, then after his basic exoneration, Trump makes a call to Zalinsky wanting to look into his political rival which he had every right to do, it’s never been a problem before and the Democrats did it to this President as well and the Democrats are trying to push the issue of a quid pro quo and whining that a crime was committed?

So now once again in their desperation and in an election year, they impeach this President, they bring in witnesses that all of them admitting to hearing second hand information and none could concretely say or prove under oath that a crime was committed, they impeach the guy and then the House speaker holds on to the Articles for a few weeks (astounding) and then finally hands them over to the Senate and then have the audacity to demand the independent Republican controlled Senate go by rules they feel should be implemented and demand that the Senate call for more witnesses because once again they couldn’t make the case so they want the Senate to do it for them when they limited the Republicans on what to say, how much time they get and what witnesses they are allowed to bring, and now they’re crying foul? Like the whiny babies they are these people are absolutely insane and the last thing they need or deserve is power, particularly in the WH.

-10 ( +3 / -13 )

The pens were shaped like bullets! The horror!

if I’m Bernie I’m voting with the Repubs and getting this trial done and back to Iowa. Hillary is screwing him again with her comments yesterday, along with CNN and The NY Times undermining him daily.

-10 ( +4 / -14 )

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