Mitch McConnell’s power as Senate Majority Leader is in proposing the rules that the impeachment removal trial will go by. But after the impeachment vote, Speaker Pelosi can sit on the it, instead stating that there are two more articles of impeachment that need to be fully investigated and added before referral:
Conspiracy
Obstruction of Justice
Since McConnell went on Hannity and admitted that he has been coordinating with the Trump team on rules and format, including the possibility of choosing not to allow witnesses to be called, isn’t this evidence of a conspiracy to obstruct justice? The intention to inhibit a fair trial by withholding documentary and testimony evidence would be a violation of McConnell’s oath of office to faithfully execute the Constitution. And he has already stated that he’ll violate his second oath, that of a fair juror in the trial of Trump for removal.
House Democrats should refuse to give him the opportunity to make good on these threats to the democratic process. By reopening the impeachment investigation focusing on these new articles, more witnesses can be called and more weight given to subpoenas for documentary evidence from the Mueller report. And that report can be the foundation of Obstruction of Justice, adding still more witness subpoenas.
And McConnell has opened the door to being drawn into this new phase of investigation. Months from now, when the expanded articles are voted on and referred, McConnell will be implicated in both new counts.
Wouldn’t McConnell have to recuse himself then? He can’t preside over an impeachment removal trial that includes his actions as evidence.
And if he does recuse, that would put Minority Leader Chuck Schumer in charge. Then Schumer could open up the process on witnesses and issuing more subpoenas, including documents. The rules would still have to be voted on, but Dems would need only two GOP Senators to switch. If they stonewall, and don’t even confirm rules that allow for witness testimony, they will be proven as cowards trying to deny the democratic process.
PLEASE ASK YOUR DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSMAN/CONGRESSWOMAN TO ACT ON THIS TODAY. This must happen before the full House impeachment vote on Wednesday.