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A4 U.S. NEWS
Wednesday 22 January 2020

McConnell abruptly eases impeachment limits

By LISA MASCARO, ERIC Senators were stunned the House impeachment
TUCKER and ZEKE MILLER by McConnell's shift, and inquiry.
Associated Press aides offered no immedi- The rare impeachment
WASHINGTON (AP) — Sen- ate answers. trial, unfolding in an elec-
ate Majority Leader Mitch But a spokeswoman for Re- tion year, is testing wheth-
McConnell abruptly eased publican Sen. Susan Collins er Trump's actions toward
his restrictive proposed said that she and others Ukraine warrant removal at
rules for President Donald had raised concerns. The the same time that voters
Trump's impeachment trial , Maine senator sees the are forming their own ver-
backing off the condensed changes as significant im- dict on his White House.
two-day schedule to add provements, said spokes- Just weeks before the first
a third for opening argu- woman Annie Clark. Democratic primary con-
ments after protests from The turnaround was a swift tests, four senators who
senators, including Repub- lesson as the White House's are also presidential can-
licans. wishes run into the reality In this image from video, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McCon- didates were off the cam-
The trial quickly burst into a of the Senate. The White nell, R-Ky., calls to table an amendment offered by Senate Mi- paign trail, seated as jurors.
partisan fight at the Capi- House wanted a session nority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., during the impeachment "My focus is going to be on
trial against President Donald Trump in the Senate at the U.S.
tol as the president's law- crammed into a shorter Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2020. impeachment," Sen. Ber-
yers opened arguments period to both expedite Associated Press nie Sanders, the Vermont
Tuesday in support of Mc- the trial and shift more of independent running for
Connell's plan. Democrats the proceedings into late to testify. Schiff noted the question is, will it come out the Democratic nomina-
objected loudly to Mc- night, according to a per- sudden change in pro- in time? " tion, told reporters. He said
Connell's initially proposed son familiar with the matter posed rules, made mo- McConnell said, "The presi- his supporters would keep
rules, and some Republi- but unauthorized to discuss ments before he spoke. dent's lawyers will finally working "to defeat the
cans made their concerns it in public. "The facts will come out in receive a level playing most dangerous president
known in private at a GOP "READ THE TRANSCRIPTS!" the end," Schiff said. "The field," contrasting it with in American history." q
lunch. the president tweeted
Without comment, the Re- from miles away, as he
publican leader quietly returned to his hotel at a
submitted an amended global leaders conference
proposal after meeting in Davos, Switzerland. That's
behind closed doors with the transcript of his phone
his senators as the trial call in which he asked new
opened. The handwritten Ukrainian President Volody-
changes would a dd the myr Zelenskiya for "a favor."
extra day and allow House The Democrats cite that
evidence to be included transcript as solid evidence
in the record. There is still against Trump, though he
deep disagreement about repeatedly describes it as
calling additional witness- "perfect."
es. Democrats had warned
"It's time to start with this tri- that the rules package
al," said White House Coun- from Trump's ally, the Sen-
sel Pat Cipollone, the presi- ate GOP leader, could
dent's lead lawyer in brief force midnight sessions that
remarks as the proceed- would keep most Ameri-
ings opened in public. cans in the dark and cre-
"It's a fair process," he said. ate a sham proceeding.
"There is absolutely no "This is not a process for a fair
case." trial, this is the process for
Chief Justice John Roberts a rigged trial" Rep. Adam
gaveled open the session, Schiff, D-Ca., the chairman
senators having taken an of the House Intelligence
oath last week to do "impar- Committee leading the
tial justice" as jurors. House prosecution, told reporters.
House prosecutors were on He called it a "cover-up."
one side, Trump's team on Schiff opened his argu-
the other, in the well of the ments before the Senate
Senatem as senators sat si- playing a video of Trump
lent at their desks. calling for more witnesses