Tag Archives: John Roberts

Sen. Paul Blocked by Justice Roberts

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by Daveda Gruber:

Holding the gavel in the Senate impeachment trial is Chief Justice of the United States John Roberts and he just made a move that blocked a question from Senator Rand Paul R-Ky., that would have revealed the whistleblower.

The impeachment proceedings against President Donald J. Trump started its journey with a whistleblower filing a complaint.

Roberts had allegedly initially sought to block even general questions of the intelligence community whistleblower but then Republicans threatened a vote rebuking Roberts on the record.

Roberts then allegedly backed down and decided to disallow mentioning the whistleblower’s name but not other information.

It is alleged that Paul’s voice raised and his displeasure was noted by reporters and Senators.

Paul said, “If I have to fight for recognition, I will.”

Paul may have not been satisfied with this. He did try to force the matter during the question and answer session that began on Thursday afternoon.

On Thursday afternoon, early into the proceedings, Roberts refused to read the first question presented in writing by Senator Paul.

Paul tweeted out this:

Under the Constitution Roberts presides over the impeachment trial. His authority is not defined. Democrats may even attempt a motion that would give Roberts the unprecedented power to approve or reject witnesses.

Whistleblowers are protected under federal law from retaliation in the workplace but does not ensure their anonymity.

Mark Zaid, the attorney for the whistleblower, in 2017 stated that a “coup” had started against the president from within the administration, and that CNN’s coverage would play a “key role” in the effort.

Years before the Ukraine call in question in this impeachment trial, Zaid has openly solicited intelligence to help him get rid of Trump.

Zaid has acknowledged that the whistleblower had contact with a prominent Democratic presidential contender. There have been reports that alleged that he had served closely with former Vice President Joe Biden when he was in office.

I’m still watching this circus and it’s getting more and more disturbing. How many clowns can there be in D.C.? Too many, I believe.

I can always be reached on Twitter. Please reach out to discuss your views with me but never tell me how or what to write. Thank you.

@DavedaGruber

Will the Kill Switch Option be Used in Impeachment Trial?

 
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by Daveda Gruber:

Is it better to have a short impeachment trial or a longer drawn out impeachment trial? All this will depend on what the immediate evidence that is presented includes.

It has been reported that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell R-Ky., is working on finalizing a rule to be included that would be a safety valve to be able to dismiss the articles of impeachment after some evidence is presented.

Senator Ted Cruz R-Tx., has made statements that the Senate trial could last six to eight weeks or longer  if it is decided by Senators to hear from additional witnesses.

Hearing from additional witnesses could interfere with the campaigns of Senators. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass. They could very well be pulled off the campaign trail.

It appears that GOP Senators consider that this is not to their advantage.

Republicans have said they supported affording Trump the opportunity to cut the trial short.

Republican Missouri Senator Josh Hawley R-Mo., said he would be “very, very surprised” if McConnell’s resolution didn’t include that kind of kill switch.

Hawley said in reports, “I am familiar with the resolution as it stood a day or two ago. My understanding is that the resolution will give the president’s team the option to either move to judgment or to move to dismiss at a meaningful time.”

Hawley tweeted:

Democrats are upset that McConnell has been holding the final resolution with the rules and not giving information until McConnell deemed his entire resolution fit for the Senators and the public to see.

McConnell doesn’t have to publish the final version of his resolution until Tuesday but it will most likely come out today.

Sources have said that the House managers have absolutely no idea what the structure of the trial will be.

Senator Lisa Murkowski, R-Ak., said she’s comfortable waiting to decide if more information would be needed for the Senate’s impeachment trial until after hearing arguments from House managers as well as attorneys for the president.

Murkowski wants to see senators hear the case and ask questions, which would be in writing and handed to Justice John Roberts to read aloud before making any determination whether witnesses or documents would be needed.

Democrats may try adding certain witnesses to an organizing resolution. McConnell, at that point, could move to table such a request and Murkowski said that she would support a tabling motion.
No one wants to see a re-play of the circus that went on in the House. The Senate does not want to be seen in that kind of light and most Americans, who watch these things, don’t want to see that kind of nonsense.

Law professor Alan Dershowitz is set to present an argument against impeachment during the Senate trial. There will be no need for witnesses if his presentation succeeds. Criminal-like conduct is required for impeachment and Dershowitz allegedly believes there is none.

Will this be a long trial or a short one? Only time will tell. Which would be better? It depends on if Dershowitz is correct in his explanation.