Senate

Senate Republicans on delaying impeachment articles: ‘One of the dumbest things I’ve ever heard’

by Jordain Carney - 12/18/19 7:47 PM ET

Republicans quickly knocked talk by some House Democrats of delaying transmitting articles of impeachment against President Trump to the Senate, warning that the pressure tactic would backfire.

Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), an adviser to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), called talk of the tactic “one of the dumbest things I’ve ever heard of.”

“Are they threatening to withhold the articles of impeachment?” he told The Hill. “That doesn’t accomplish their intended goal. That just means we won’t be having a trial.”

McConnell, asked by a Washington Examiner reporter about a potential delay, similarly shrugged it off, saying, “I’m in no hurry.”

The idea of delaying sending the impeachment articles to the Senate first surfaced last week when Democrats began talking about asking Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) to hold articles of impeachment in the House until McConnell agrees to a fair rules package for a Senate trial.

The idea resurfaced on Wednesday as the House headed toward a vote on the two articles of impeachment.

Harvard Law School Professor Laurence Tribe penned a Washington Post op-ed in which he argued that delaying sending over the articles would strengthen Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer’s hand in negotiations with McConnell over the rules of the impeachment trial.

The idea, according to a separate Washington Post report, has gained traction with some members of the House Democratic Caucus who worry that McConnell will not agree to a fair proceeding.

Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) told MSNBC that one alternative could be for Pelosi to “hold the articles of impeachment after they’ve been voted in the House and say to Mitch McConnell, Look, we want to make sure there’s a fair trial in the United States Senate.'”

But Republicans on Wednesday night warned that tactic would fail to net Democrats a better agreement with McConnell on the rules of the proceeding. A Senate trial is expected to start in early January, with the rest of floor business, including Trump’s trade deal with Mexico and Canada, on hold until after it ends.

McConnell and Schumer are expected to sit down as soon as Thursday to start negotiating on the process for a trial. The GOP leader told senators during a closed-door caucus lunch on Tuesday to expect at least an announcement on the start date of the trial by Friday.

Sen. David Perdue (R-Ga.), a close Trump ally, argued that Democrats had already “wasted” 84 days on the House impeachment inquiry.

“How would a delay make a better process over here?” he asked.

Sen. Mike Braun (R-Ind.) said discussion of delaying transmitting the articles shows House Democrats “are concerned about the case as it currently exists.”

Asked if he thought it would help put pressure on Senate Republicans, he added, “No, because I don’t think the pressure is on us at this point.”

Tags Chris Van Hollen Chuck Schumer Donald Trump John Cornyn Mike Braun Mitch McConnell Nancy Pelosi