Impeachment trial/Republican cover-up reaches key decision point: Live coverage #5

After a day of procedural debate and voting, six days of opening arguments, and two days of question and answer, the impeachment trial of Donald Trump could conclude Friday with debate followed by Republicans voting to end the trial and cover up Trump’s abuses of power. But Democrats will be keeping up the fight for a fair trial.

Saturday, Feb 1, 2020 · 12:19:16 AM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

We’re back in business for the evening. The schedule is pretty much as expected, with 4 amendments tonight, all debate on Monday, and nothing but the vote on Wednesday afternoon.

Schumer asks Roberts if he will break ties, reminding him of votes in the Johnson impeachment. Roberts makes it clear he will not break ties. Which has to make McConnell ecstatic.

Saturday, Feb 1, 2020 · 12:21:02 AM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

First amendment

Schumer sends an amendment to subpoena the requested four witnesses: Mulvaney, Bolton, Duffey and Blair, along with documents. Which will probably end up with exactly the same vote count as the last call for witnesses.

I’m not sure of the strategy, if there is one, for making Republicans go on record concerning witnesses and documents when they just did so. I’m sure there is a strategy. Or at least … I think I am.

McConnell immediately moves to table the amendment without debate, which appears to be part of the agreement. If so, we’re going to get through these in a big hurry.

Saturday, Feb 1, 2020 · 12:28:24 AM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

The first amendment is tabled 53-47, so not a single Republican went along.

Next amendment from Schumer is to subpoena John Bolton. And again, I am completely unclear whey, having lost the fight to get witnesses, and then fought to get an opportunity to offer four amendments, all of them seem related to making Republican senators repeat the vote they already made.

Saturday, Feb 1, 2020 · 12:34:07 AM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

And the amendment to subpoena just Bolton goes down 51-49.

Not only can I not see the point of these amendments, I can’t see why Schumer bothered to ask Roberts about ties. Because it seems obvious the amendments so far would attract less Republican support than a general vote on witnesses.

Saturday, Feb 1, 2020 · 12:36:33 AM +00:00 · Mark Sumner Third amendment from Schumer is to subpoena John Bolton, but this time with limits of one day for deposition and one day for live testimony. Dammit. I’m not going to get any censure votes or sense of the Senate votes.  Saturday, Feb 1, 2020 · 12:38:10 AM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

I always have hopes that Inhofe or Kennedy will forget which way to vote.

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