Durbin: Just Before Trial, Still Lack ‘Most Basic’ Info About Proceedings

Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) speaks during a news conference with Democratic lawmakers on Capitol Hill on July 25, 2018. (Photo by Al Drago/Getty Images)
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Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) said Sunday, just two days before President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial is set to start, that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) has withheld even “the most basic negotiation or exchange of information.”

McConnell has yet to share his memo about the rules governing the trial, which he has said he has the votes to approve.

Durbin predicted that the earliest motions from his side of the aisle will be pertaining to witnesses and evidence that Democrats want as part of proceedings. McConnell wants a witness-free trial, and will be able to ensure that it happens unless four of his members defect to the Democrats.

“The bottom line is, is there going to be a fair trial? Are we going to have evidence, documents and witnesses? To this point, Senator McConnell has said ‘no, not necessary.’ He’s made up his mind long ago,” Durbin said. “But I think the American people expect a real trial to have real witnesses and evidence.”

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  1. “The bottom line is, is there going to be a fair trial? Are we going to have evidence, documents and witnesses? To this point, Senator McConnell has said ‘no, not necessary.’ He’s made up his mind long ago,” Durbin said. “But I think the American people expect a real trial to have real witnesses and evidence.”

    Thanks, Sen Durbin, but I think you and I both know that the American people have no dog in this fight. What we want means nothing to #ditchMoscowMitch. He’s stacked the deck and nothing will come of this. You know that; I know that; we all pretty much know that. So don’t wait around for anything you hope will provide clarity. Mud is the best we can hope for.

  2. “The bottom line is, is there going to be a fair trial? Are we going to have evidence, documents and witnesses? To this point, Senator McConnell has said ‘no, not necessary.’ He’s made up his mind long ago,” Durbin said. “But I think the American people expect a real trial to have real witnesses and evidence.”

    Lordy, I hope so. If McConnell pulls this off without much in the way of repercussions, we’re screwed.

  3. First, the good news:

    About half of Americans say the Senate should vote to convict President Donald Trump and remove him from office in the upcoming impeachment trial (51%), according to a new CNN poll conducted by SSRS, while 45% say the Senate should vote against conviction and removal.

    Not the strongest numbers. I was hoping for 55% or better. Then again, we all know polls are pretty much useless when Trump is involved.
    The ball is in the GOP’s court now. I doubt Mitch and Roberts are going to hold a real trial.Obfuscation is what we’re going to get.

  4. And hopefully Durbin will PROCLAIM this over and over and over for a long time.

  5. There won’t be. Have there been any repercussions about anything so far?

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