GOP senator provides fidget spinners to Senate colleagues at lunch

Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) on Thursday provided fidget spinner toys to his Senate colleagues for use during the lengthy impeachment trial.

A spokesperson from Burr’s office confirmed to The Hill that he gave out the items and other fidget toys, including stress balls, to his fellow senators. Burr handed out the toys while he hosted the weekly lunch for Republican senators.

During the impeachment trial, senators are under strict no-talking and no-electronics rules so they can listen and focus on the case laid out by House managers and the defense of the president’s counsel.

Some lawmakers to have been spotted pacing in the chamber, standing behind their desks and doing numerous stretches as the trial extends for hours. 

Several reporters have spotted the spinners on senators’ desks during Thursday’s proceedings.

Fidget spinners are popular in the Senate chamber today. Sen. Burr has been using his blue one the whole time. Sen. Cotton has a purple one and Sen. Toomey has a white one but they haven’t picked them up yet….

— Katherine Faulders (@KFaulders) January 23, 2020

Three senators were spotted with fidget spinners as impeachment trial proceedings began on Thursday.

Sens. Tom Cotton (purple spinner), Richard Burr (blue spinner), and Pat Toomey (white spinner) were spotted with spinners on their desks.

— Nicholas Wu (@nicholaswu12) January 23, 2020

Under the impeachment rules this week, the lawmakers are only allowed to have water and milk on the floor. Several senators were spotted with glasses of milk, including Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) quipping he “had some milk with my chocolate.”

“I guess I could’ve added vodka & had a White Russian (minus the Kahlua). But @RepAdamSchiff probably would’ve accused me of collusion,” the senator posted Wednesday, referring to the Democratic congressman from California.

The early stages of the impeachment trial involve the opening statements from both sides, who are given 24 hours in total to speak to the upper chamber. President Trump is on trial for the House-passed articles of impeachment: abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.