McConnell All But Declares There’ll Be No Movement On Impeachment Until After Holidays

WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 17, 2019: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, followed by his leadership, is about to answer questions from journalist concerning the approaching Senate impeachment trail on Capitol Hill... WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 17, 2019: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, followed by his leadership, is about to answer questions from journalist concerning the approaching Senate impeachment trail on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC on Tuesday December 17, 2019. (Photo by Melina Mara/The Washington Post via Getty Images) MORE LESS
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) signaled on Monday there would be no movement on impeachment until after Congress returns to session in January.

Speaking to reporters in Kentucky, McConnell was tight-lipped about impeachment proceedings and how the Senate intends to handle the articles once they come over from the House, pointing local reporters instead to a “Fox and Friends” interview he gave on Monday morning.

“I think we’ll find out when we come back in session where we are,” he said, signaling that there’d be no decision on a Senate trial until after the holidays.

McConnell also jabbed House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) for delaying the transmission of the articles. Pelosi has indicated she would send the articles over once she knows how the Senate plans to conduct its trial, so she’ll have a better idea of how many impeachment managers to assign to the task. Republicans have seized on this delay as a sign of Democrats getting weak-kneed about their case.

“We can’t take up a matter we don’t have, so hopefully they’ll be on the way over at some point,” he said.

When asked about how impeachment proceedings might impact his next election, McConnell was honest: “Who knows,” he said.

Last week the leader of the upper chamber told reporters that he and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) were at an impasse over how to handle impeachment. Schumer sent a letter to colleagues on Monday, saying he wanted four witnesses to speak at a robust Senate trial and requested documents relevant to Ukraine be provided as well. McConnell has indicated he doesn’t want Democrats or Republicans to call in witnesses, but he says his caucus has not quite reached a decision. That indication appears to be in contrast with what President Trump has publicly claimed he’d like to see.

Latest News
57
Show Comments

Notable Replies

  1. The yertle from Moscow. He believes in trials without a witness or defendant.

  2. Avatar for tsp tsp says:

    McTurtle insists on remaining the elephant in the room by refusing to adhere to his Oath of Office.

  3. When asked about how impeachment proceedings might impact his next election, McConnell was honest: “Who knows,” he said.

    I’ve read that several times now, and something about it just won’t parse.

  4. Avatar for pshah pshah says:

    No shit, Mitch. Nancy already laid down the law. Maybe that’s why he’s so “tight-lipped”? He’s not in control of this, at all. No matter how hard he tries to convince the media otherwise.

  5. He may look like a turtle, but he’s an unrepentant pig.

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

51 more replies

Participants

Avatar for publishermike Avatar for az02132 Avatar for srfromgr Avatar for littlegirlblue Avatar for eggrollian Avatar for sandyh Avatar for drriddle Avatar for tomanjeri Avatar for leftcoaster Avatar for dddinah Avatar for fiftygigs Avatar for darrtown Avatar for tena Avatar for tsp Avatar for bodie1 Avatar for caltg Avatar for castor_troy Avatar for jmacaz Avatar for brian512 Avatar for katscherger Avatar for aiddon Avatar for justruss Avatar for occamscoin Avatar for emiliano4

Continue Discussion
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Deputy Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: