Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (KY) proposed a timeline on Thursday for the Senate to hold its second impeachment trial of now-former President Donald Trump. House Democrats and a handful of GOP members rushed through an eleventh-hour article of impeachment in a knee-jerk reaction to the riot at the U.S. Capitol earlier this month.
McConnell has proposed taking up the president’s latest impeachment in February to give the former president time to mount a defense. McConnell said in a statement that he has sent the proposed timeline to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY).
McConnell is asking for the article of impeachment to arrive at the Senate on Thursday, January 28, at which time the article would be read before the Senate by House Managers. Former President Trump would have one week from that day, so Feb. 4, to answer the article against him, and the House’s pre-trail brief would also be due on this day. Trump would have one week from then, till Feb. 11, to submit his pre-trial brief, and the House’s replication would be due at the same time. Two days later, Feb. 13, the House’s rebuttal pre-trial brief would be due.
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Trump Hires Defense Lawyer for Second Senate Impeachment Trial
Former President Donald Trump has started putting together the defense team for his historic second Senate impeachment trial, starting with hiring South Carolina-based lawyer Butch Bowers.
Trump adviser Jason Miller, who announced the hiring on Twitter, said Bowers “is well respected by both Republicans and Democrats and will do an excellent job defending President Trump.” Miller would not say whether others had signed on or whether Bowers would be the sole lawyer representing Trump.
Republican senators were briefed about Bowers’ involvement on a GOP conference call Thursday afternoon, two people familiar with the discussions said. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., mentioned that he had recommended Bowers to Trump, the sources said.
Asked later about Trump’s legal team, Graham told reporters: “Well, I think he’s going to have a good one. Butch Bowers, I think, will be the sort of anchor tenant. But I’ve known Butch for a long time, solid guy. And I think over time, they’ll put the team together.”
via joemiller