Republican Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio told CNBC why he joined 44 other Republicans in rejecting the constitutionality of ousting former President Donald Trump.
“I think we need to address the constitutional issue, not present it and not leave it aside, so as a jury I will listen to both parties, but we need to address the constitutional issue and the precedent that this would set, So that if you look at the Constitution … it’s about dismissal, and now it’s about a private citizen, Donald Trump, not president, “Portman said in an interview recorded Thursday evening on” The News with Shepard Smith. “
Kentucky Senator Rand Paul led the indictment to dismiss the constitutionality of the proceedings. First, based on the fact that Trump is no longer in office, and second, given the fact that pro tempore Senate President Patrick Leahy (D-VT) will preside over the trial instead of the chief judge of the Supreme Court, John Roberts.
Roberts presided over Trump’s first trial for dismissal, but will not repeat the role a second time. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York told MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow on Monday that the decision to chair was Roberts.
“The Constitution says the first judge presides over an incumbent president,” Schumer said. “So that’s not going to be the case, so it was up to John Roberts if he wanted to preside over a president who is no longer president, Trump. And he doesn’t want to do that.”
Portman told host Shepard Smith he was concerned about the precedent that could set this dismissal trial.
“Think of the precedent of saying that Republicans could go after President Obama or President Clinton or Democrats could go after George W. Bush as a private citizen,” Portman said.
Portman had previously stated that Trump “has some responsibility” for the January 6 Capitol uprising. He did not support Trump’s efforts to nullify the 2020 election results and voted to keep the election results certified on Jan. 6 and delayed the count.
Smith pressured Portman on what he believed would be an appropriate punishment for Trump.
“An appropriate consequence is for people to speak out, as I am very clear, before, frankly, during and after, and I think it is also important that the House has acted, so there have been consequences in this way.” said Portman.
Portman announced that he will not seek re-election next year, but will fulfill his term which will end on January 3, 2023. He said “there will be no shortage of politics and partisanship, and this is becoming more difficult with the passage of time. “