WASHINGTON (AP) – The opening of arguments in Donald Trump’s Senate indictment for the Capitol riot will begin the week of Feb. 8, the first time a former president will face those charges after leave office.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced the schedule Friday night after reaching an agreement with Republicans, who had pushed for a delay to give Trump a chance to organize his legal team and prepare a defense under the sole charge of inciting insurrection.
The February start date also allows the Senate more time to confirm the nominations to the Cabinet of President Joe Biden and consider its proposed $ 1.9 trillion COVID relief package, the top priorities of the new White House agenda that could be stalled during court proceedings.
“We all want to leave behind this horrible chapter in our nation’s history,” Schumer said of the deadly January 6 Capitol siege by a crowd of pro-Trump supporters.
“But healing and unity will only come if there is truth and accountability. And that is what this trial will provide. “
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi will send the dismissal article Monday afternoon, with sworn senators as jurors on Tuesday. But the initial arguments will move to February.
Trump’s impeachment trial would be the first by a U.S. president who would no longer hold office, a company his Republican allies in the Senate argue is futile and potentially even unconstitutional. Democrats say they must hold Trump accountable, even as they pursue Biden’s legislative priorities, because of the gravity of what happened: a violent attack on the U.S. Congress aimed at overthrowing the election.
If Trump is convicted, the Senate could vote to prevent him from holding office ever again, potentially increasing his chances of returning politically.
The Democrats ’urgency to hold Trump accountable was complicated by the need to launch the Biden government and quickly begin its coronavirus aid package.
“The more time we have to get started … the better,” Biden said Friday in brief comments to reporters.
Republicans were eager to delay the trial, distancing themselves from the shocking events of the siege and the votes that will test their loyalty to the former president who still catches the attention of voters.
Negotiations between Schumer and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell have been complicated, as the two are also in talks over a power-sharing agreement for the Senate, which is split between 50 and 50 but is under control. democratic because Vice President Kamala Harris serves to break the deadlock. to vote.
McConnell had proposed delaying the start and congratulated himself on the deal.
“Republicans set out to ensure that the next steps in the Senate respect the rights and due process of former President Trump, the institution of the Senate and the office of the presidency,” McConnell spokesman Doug Andres said. “This goal has been achieved.”
Pelosi said Friday that the nine chamber prosecutors or prosecutors are “ready to begin filing their case” against Trump. Trump’s team will have had the same amount of time since voting for the removal of the House to prepare, Pelosi said.
Democrats say they can move forward quickly during the process, potentially without witnesses, because lawmakers experienced the insurgency first hand.
One of the managers, California Rep. Ted Lieu, said Friday that Democrats would rather work in politics right now, but “we can’t ignore” what happened Jan. 6.
“It was an attack on our Capitol by a violent crowd,” Lieu said in an interview with The Associated Press. “It was an attack on our nation by our commander-in-chief. We have to address it and make sure it doesn’t happen again. ”
Trump, who told his followers to “fight like hell” just before they invaded the Capitol two weeks ago and disrupted the counting of election votes, is still gathering his legal team.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki delayed the trial schedule in Congress on Friday and did not say whether Biden believes Trump should be convicted. But he said lawmakers can discuss and hold hearings simultaneously on Biden’s coronavirus relief package.
“We don’t think it can be delayed or that it can wait, so they will have to find a way forward,” Psaki said about the virus’s help. “I’m sure they can.”
Democrats would need the support of at least 17 Republicans to condemn Trump, a high bar. While most Republican senators condemned Trump’s actions that day, far fewer seem prepared to condemn.
A handful of Senate Republicans have indicated they are open, but not committed, to the conviction. But most have defended Trump’s defense of the impeachment, saying they believe a trial will be divisive and question the legality of judging a president after he leaves office.
South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, a close ally of Trump who has helped her find lawyers, said Friday that there is “a very compelling constitutional case” over whether Trump can be indicted after his term – a statement which Democrats reject, saying there is a broad legal precedent. Graham also suggested Republicans will argue that Trump’s words on Jan. 6 were not “incitement” legally.
“On the facts, they will be able to mount a defense, so the most important thing is to give him the opportunity to prepare and conduct the trial in an orderly manner, and we hope that the Senate rejects the idea of persecuting presidents after they leave office.” said Graham.
Other Republicans had stronger words, which suggested there would be no trial. Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso said Pelosi is sending a message to Biden that “my hatred and my vitriol to Donald Trump are so strong that I will prevent even you and your cabinet from doing anything.” Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson suggested Democrats opt for “revenge” over national security as Biden tries to establish his government.
McConnell, who said this week that Trump “provoked” his supporters before the riot, has not said how he will vote. He said Senate Republicans “firmly believe that we need a full and fair process where the former president can defend and the Senate can properly consider issues of fact, legal and constitutional.”
Trump, the first president to be indicted twice, is at a disadvantage compared to his first indictment trial, in which he had all the resources of the White House attorney to defend him. Graham helped Trump hire South Carolina attorney Butch Bowers after members of their past legal teams indicated they had no plans to join the new effort.
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Associated Press writers Aamer Madhani in Washington, Meg Kinnard in Columbia, South Carolina, and Jill Colvin in West Palm Beach, Florida, contributed to this report.