The Senate convened a rare presidential impeachment trial Tuesday with an immediate partisan fight over witnesses and the terms of the proceedings.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, plans to force a vote in an attempt to subpoena documents related to charges that President Trump abused the power of his office by withholding critical security aid from Ukraine.
Schumer wants to amend rules for the trial written by Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican. McConnell wants to postpone consideration of additional evidence until later in the trial.
“I intend to move to table Sen. Schumer’s amendment,” McConnell said.
The trial, opened by Chief Justice John Roberts, is only the third in history. Senators are not allowed to talk during the proceedings — the Senate sergeant at arms warned lawmakers to “keep silent, on pain of imprisonment” — but will be provided an opportunity later on to ask questions in writing.
The GOP-led Senate is poised to pass McConnell’s trial rules this afternoon and to defeat efforts by Democrats to amend or change those rules.
Democrats oppose the timing of the trial, which will require officials from each side to present their case in 24 hours spread over two days.
Democrats say that will push some of the testimony into the middle of the night.
Trump’s lead defense lawyer, Pat Cipollone, spoke in support of McConnell’s resolution that sets the terms for the trial.
“It requires the House managers to stand up and make their opening statement and make their case,” he said. “They have delayed bringing the impeachment to this House for 33 days, and it is time to start with this trial.”
House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, one of the Democratic impeachment managers, argued against the resolution.
