Page 2 - ARUBA TODAY

A2 UP FRONT
Wednesday 8 January 2020

Continued from Front Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, the charges, but Demo-
She is set to meet late Tues- said Tuesday that the Clin- crats say fresh evidence, in-
day with her leadership ton process "provided a cluding Bolton's willingness
team. pathway" to start the trial to testify, only increases
"We have the votes," Mc- and consider witnesses pressure for new witnesses
Connell told reporters. He "down the road." He said and documents.
said the question of new he supports it. Bolton apparently com-
witnesses and documents "I'm comfortable with that pared the administration's
will be addressed later "and process," Romney said. actions toward Ukraine to
not before the trial begins." "And at this stage, I'd like to a "drug deal" he wanted
The contours of a Senate hear from John Bolton and no part of, a shadow di-
trial have been in dispute. other witnesses with the plomacy being concocted
Pelosi is delaying transmis- right information, but that by the acting White House
sion of the articles as Dem- process will accommodate chief of staff Mick Mul-
ocrats press to hear from that." vaney and Ambassador to
former national security ad- Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, the European Union Gor-
viser John Bolton and other Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., arrives at the Capi- has also said she supports don Sondland, according
tol in Washington, Tuesday Jan. 7, 2020, as Democrats prepared
new witnesses. McConnell largely symbolic resolutions under the War Powers Act to limit McConnell's approach. to House testimony. Bolton
has resisted and prefers the president's military actions regarding Iran. Others say they are not sure left the administration in
speedy acquittal.The GOP Associated Press they even need to hear September.
leader told senators at their from Bolton or other wit- Democrats also want doc-
closed-door lunch Tuesday until later in the process. Pelosi gave Democrats an nesses, blaming the House uments about the with-
that he has support for his "He has 51 (votes), for sure,"' opportunity to ramp up for not forcing them to tes- held aid to Ukraine that the
plan, outlined in an orga- said Sen. Lindsey Graham, pressure on Republicans tify. Trump had instructed White House refused to turn
nizing resolution that would R-S.C., a top ally of the not to go along with Mc- White House officials not to over to House investigators,
be modeled after President president, exiting the meet- Connell's proposal. Sen- comply with the House in- defying congressional sub-
Bill Clinton's impeachment ing. Republicans hold the ate Minority Leader Chuck vestigation. poenas.
trial 20 years ago. It would majority in the Senate, 53- Schumer called McCon- "It's not that I don't want to With a 53-seat majority,
start the trial first and post- 47. nell's plan a "trap" and a hear from him," said Sen. McConnell has only loose
pone votes on witnesses In withholding the articles, "cover-up." Thom Tillis, R-N.C. "I want control over the impeach-
"Whoever heard of a tri- to hear from him when the ment proceedings, where
al without witnesses and House is willing to do their decisions on witnesses or
documents?" the New York work and have the same documents can be made
Democrat said. He asked agreement with the am- with a 51-vote majority.
Trump what he has to hide. bassador on their side of Pressure will mount on sen-
"Witnesses and documents: the Hill." ators up for reelection from
fair trial. No witnesses and Trump faces charges that swing states in 2020, includ-
documents: cover- up." he abused the power of ing Collins, Tillis, Iowa GOP
Republicans countered the presidency by pressur- Sen. Joni Ernst and Colo-
that Democrats rushed ing Ukraine's new leader rado GOP Sen. Cory Gard-
to impeach and then de- to investigate Democrats, ner, who are being closely
layed the process. Pelosi using as leverage $400 mil- watched for their votes by
has yet to choose House lion in military assistance a deeply divided country.
impeachment managers that is critical for the ally as Protesters are showing up
for the trial, a politically sen- it counters Russia at its bor- at the Capitol.
sitive next step, with many der. McConnell deflected a
lawmakers vying to be The funding for Ukraine was question Tuesday on wheth-
candidates. The House im- eventually released but er Trump acted appropri-
peached the president last only after Congress inter- ately with Ukraine, saying
month on the two charges. vened. he had nothing more to
Just four GOP senators From the Oval Office, add on that issue. He ac-
would be needed to deny where Trump was meet- knowledged the votes on
McConnell his majority, but ing with the prime minis- witnesses and documents
he appears to have locked ter of Greece, he railed will be "the most conten-
up the votes. GOP leaders against the impeachment tious'' part of the proceed-
were conducting a whip proceedings, as he often ings. "There will be, I'm sure,
count Tuesday to gauge does, as "a totally partisan intense discussion," he said.
support. Several GOP sena- hoax witch hunt.'' The GOP leader has come
tors have indicated they Trump insisted "there was under criticism for saying
want to hear from Bolton absolutely nothing done he was not an impartial ju-
and other witnesses, but wrong" in his interactions ror but rather was working
they are nevertheless with Ukraine. in total coordination with
standing with McConnell's Republicans are expected the White House on the trial
plan for starting the trial. to swiftly acquit Trump of strategy. q