Jay Sekulow, one of many president’s legal professionals, has made a easy case to the senators: The president is below assault, they usually should
Jay Sekulow, one of many president’s legal professionals, has made a easy case to the senators: The president is below assault, they usually should defend him.
As he describes it, the impeachment inquiry is simply the most recent iteration of relentless efforts by the president’s enemies to undercut and unseat him. Just like the F.B.I.’s investigation of whether or not the Trump marketing campaign conspired with Russia to affect the 2016 election, Mr. Sekulow argues, the impeachment investigation has been misguided and deeply unfair.
On Thursday, Mr. Sekulow once more raised his favourite instance: how the F.B.I. misled a federal courtroom so it might secretly snoop on a former Trump marketing campaign aide, Carter Web page. The International Intelligence Surveillance Court docket final month severely criticized errors and omissions within the F.B.I.’s functions to surveil Mr. Web page.
Mr. Sekulow argued that the Web page case confirmed that the president was proper to query the evaluation of the nation’s intelligence officers about international interference within the 2016 election — and to hear as an alternative to folks he trusted, like his private lawyer Rudolph W. Giuliani.
That argument is certain to enchantment to Mr. Trump, who takes each alternative to rail towards federal and congressional investigations which have dogged him since he took workplace. Whether or not senators see as on level is one other query.
Senator Pat Roberts, Republican of Kansas, mentioned his spouse, Franki, fielded quite a lot of calls on Wednesday from individuals who wished to “categorical their anger on the president.”
Mr. Roberts lamented the starkly partisan nature of the trial, saying he didn’t bear in mind it being so unhealthy during the impeachment of former President Bill Clinton. “The temper on the time was not as harsh, as full as animus with reference to the president,” Mr. Roberts mentioned.
Nonetheless, he shared a second of levity as he headed into lunch earlier than the session on Thursday: Senator Patrick J. Leahy, Democrat of Vermont, walked by and stopped to shake fingers and banter earlier than a gaggle of reporters. “It’s not true that you need to be bald to be named Patrick,” joked Mr. Leahy, who’s bald. “The person speaketh the reality,” mentioned Mr. Roberts, who can be bald.
“We’re a part of the octogenarian membership,” added Mr. Roberts, who’s 83. “Virtually for me!” mentioned Mr. Leahy, who’s 79.
After Mr. Leahy stepped away, Mr. Roberts mirrored additional on the divided state of the Congress, and the nation. “I hope we are able to get out of right here and get again to work,” he mentioned. “That’s the most effective factor we are able to do.”
Senator Lamar Alexander, Republican of Tennessee and a potential swing vote over whether or not to name witnesses, requested his first query of the impeachment trial on Thursday with Senators Ted Cruz, Republican of Texas, and Steve Daines, Republican of Montana.
Mr. Alexander requested the Home impeachment managers to stipulate the variations in bipartisanship between the Nixon impeachment and the Trump impeachment.
Consultant Zoe Lofgren, Democrat of California and a veteran of all three presidential impeachments, stood to reply the query. However she didn’t specify the vote margins within the present impeachment inquiry.
After Mr. Alexander conferred with Republican workers, Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the bulk chief, requested the president’s protection legal professionals to reply to the query. That additionally signaled Mr. McConnell’s first query.
When one of many legal professionals initially referred to Mr. Alexander as “Senator Lamar,” he chuckled, replying, “That’s O.Ok.”
After 5 hours of questioning, senators broke for a 45-minute dinner break at 6:39 p.m. Jap. During the last two days, almost 150 questions have been requested.
Senator Elizabeth Warren, Democrat of Massachusetts, despatched a very pointed query for Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. to learn aloud within the Senate chamber.
“Does the truth that the chief justice is presiding over an impeachment trial wherein Republican senators have to date refused to permit witnesses or proof contribute to the lack of legitimacy of the chief justice, the Supreme Court docket and the Structure?” she requested of the Home managers.
Surprised gasps and oohs crammed the chamber — from senators and spectators alike — as Mr. Roberts completed studying the query, with little emotion on his face.
Consultant Adam B. Schiff, Democrat of California and the lead…