The number of Democratic senators who are calling for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) to transmit the two articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump to the Senate is so the chamber can move forward with its impeachment trial is increasing.
On Wednesday, Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) joined the group, and questioned what holding onto them will accomplish.
“If we’re going to do it, she should send them over,” Feinstein said. “I don’t see what good delay does.”
Dianne Feinstein says it’s time for Speaker Nancy Pelosi to send the impeachment articles to the Senate.
— Laura Litvan (@LauraLitvan) January 8, 2020
“If we’re going to do it, she should send them over,” the California Democrat said. “I don’t see what good delay does.”
Shortly after the Dec. 18 House vote to advance the articles of impeachment, Pelosi announced that she would withhold the articles until Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) detailed the procedure for the trial.
On Tuesday, she reaffirmed her stance, telling Democrats in a closed-door meeting that she would not transmit the articles until she learns more about the trial process.
Her comments came as Senate Republicans announced they had secured the required 51 to establish rules for the trial without agreeing to Democratic witness requests.
Senate Republicans noted that they could consider whether to call witnesses later in the trial — instead of at the outset.
On Wednesday, McConnell blasted Pelosi for “this shameless game-playing” designed to force Senate to call new witnesses and request documents related to Trump’s decision to put a hold on military aid to Ukraine.
“Supposedly, the explanation for this shameless game-playing is that Speaker Pelosi wanted leverage — leverage — to reach into the Senate and dictate our trial proceedings to us. Now I’ve made clear from the beginning that no such leverage exists. And yesterday we made it clear it will never exist”
Sen. Mitch McConnell: "Supposedly, the explanation for this shameless game-playing is that Speaker Pelosi wanted leverage — leverage — to reach in to the Senate and dictate our trial proceedings to us. Now I've made clear from the beginning that no such leverage exists." pic.twitter.com/s6hcKo3aya
— The Hill (@thehill) January 8, 2020
McConnell has stood firm in his resolve that the Senate cannot begin its trial until the House officially transmits the articles of impeachment, but members of his caucus have started to grow tired of the delay.
Senate Republicans have begun plotting ways to either initiate the trial or dismiss the impeachment charges.
On Monday, Sens. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and Ted Cruz (R-Texas) introduced a proposal that would allow the Senate to dismiss the articles of impeachment “for failure to prosecute” if the House does not transmit them within 25 calendar days from the date the House approved them.
Additionally, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said he would push for a rule change that would allow the Senate to begin its trial without receiving the articles of impeachment from the House.
