Page 4 - ANTILL DGB

A4 U.S. NEWS
Monday 16 deceMber 2019
Democrats seek Bolton, Mulvaney for impeachment trial

By LISA MASCARO and beled the alternative for-
JONATHAN LEMIRE eign policy being run by
Associated Press Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani
WASHINGTON (AP) — Sen- and others as a "drug deal''
ate Democrats are propos- he wanted no part of. He
ing a weekslong Senate left the White House in Sep-
impeachment trial seek- tember.
ing testimony from four They also want testimony
new witnesses including from Mulvaney, the acting
John Bolton and Mick Mul- chief of staff at the White
vaney over President Don- House, who has acknowl-
ald Trump's actions toward edged the military aid to
Ukraine, according to a Ukraine was being held up,
detailed outlined released as well as two other White
Sunday. House officials: Robert Blair,
Minority Leader Chuck a top Mulvaney aide, and
Schumer of New York pro- Michael Duffey, a budget
posed the structure for a official who was tasked
"fair and honest'' trial in a with handling the Ukraine
letter to Majority Leader issue.
Mitch McConnell, an at- Schumer additionally sets
tempt to launch negotia- out a specific schedule
tions ahead of House vot- that would allow for 24
ing this week that is all but In this Monday, Dec. 9, 2019, file photo, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., speaks to hours of opening argu-
certain to result in the presi- reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington. ments by the House Demo-
dent being impeached. Associated Press crats' impeachment man-
Trump faces two charges is expected to be acquit- under the Constitution would not only clear him of agers and then 24 hours for
— abuse of power and ted in a trial in the Senate, with integrity and dignity," the charges in the Senate the White House lawyers to
obstruction of Congress — where Republicans have Schumer wrote. "The trial but also vindicate him, but present their arguments,
over his efforts to pressure the majority. McConnell must be one that not only his desire for a lengthy pro- followed by days of witness
Ukraine to investigate po- has signaled his preference hears all of the evidence ceeding is something Sen- testimony. He also sets time
litical rival Joe Biden while for a speedy trial. and adjudicates the case ate Republicans are hop- for questioning of House
withholding military aid "This trial must be one that fairly; it must also pass the ing to avoid. managers and Trump's
to the ally. The president is fair, that considers all of fairness test with the Ameri- A spokesman for McCon- counsel by senators; final
faces likely impeachment the relevant facts, and that can people." nell said Sunday the two arguments by House man-
in the House, where Demo- exercises the Senate's 'sole Trump has expressed in- leaders are expected to agers and Trump's counsel;
crats have control, but he Power of Impeachment' terest in a robust trial that meet. and as many as 24 hours for
"Leader McConnell has deliberations by senators.
made it clear he plans to All told Schumer suggests
meet with Leader Schumer 126 hours of proceedings.
to discuss the contours of McConnell has indicated
a trial soon," McConnell in recent days his prefer-
spokesman Doug Andres ence for a swift trial without
said. "That timeline has not calling witnesses in what
changed." Republicans fear could
Schumer and McConnell become a spectacle. At
are are expected to discuss the same time, the GOP
the contours of a Senate tri- leader has said he's taking
al, much as the Democrats his "cues" from the White
and Republicans did dur- House and will conduct
ing Bill Clinton's impeach- the proceedings as Trump
ment two decades ago. wants them.
In the letter, Schumer pro- One top Trump ally, Sen.
poses a detailed struc- Lindsey Graham of South
ture and timeline for a trial Carolina, said Sunday he
to begin Jan. 7, with the too prefers a quick end to
swearing in of Chief Jus- impeachment proceed-
tice John Roberts to over- ings.
see the proceedings and "I'd tell the president, if
stretch for several weeks as somebody is ready to ac-
Democrats subpoena wit- quit you, I'd sort of get
nesses and testimony, spe- out of the way," Graham
cifically around Trump's de- said. He warned that call-
cision to withhold military ing witnesses could mean
aid from Ukraine. A day of that Trump administration
what Schumer calls "pretrial officials such as Secre-
housekeeping measures" tary of State Mike Pom-
would take place Jan. 6. peo, blocked by the White
Democrats want to hear House previously from ap-
from Bolton, who was pearing before investiga-
Trump's national security tors, could be forced to
adviser at the time and la- testify.q