As she prepares to finally send over the articles of impeachment, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is warning there could be a "cover-up" to protect President Trump in the Republican-led Senate. Republicans, meanwhile, are testing ways to use the trial as a wedge issue on Democrats.
Driving the news: Pelosi is expected to name House managers this week after consulting with her caucus at a meeting on Tuesday morning. She'll deliver the articles shortly after, though the precise timing is still unclear.
What's next: Once the articles are formally delivered to the Senate, the impeachment trial would begin almost immediately.
- The first few days of trial are expected to be procedural — including the swearing-in of Chief Justice John Roberts, U.S. senators as jurors and additional housekeeping items.
- Simultaneously, senators will debate the resolution laying out the terms for the trial, a Republican leadership aide told Axios. A vote on the resolution is expected to take place roughly three to four days after the trial begins, the aide said.
What they're saying: Pelosi told ABC's George Stephanopoulos this morning that "if we don't" see new witnesses or documents in the Senate trial "then it's a coverup."
- Pelosi defended her decision to delay the impeachment trial by several weeks in an attempt to force witnesses and document production, and she said the ball is now in Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's court.
- She said McConnell will be held "accountable to the American people."
- Meanwhile, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, appearing on Fox, accused Pelosi of slow-walking impeachment to hurt Sen. Bernie Sanders' chances of winning the Democrats' Iowa caucuses by forcing him to be in Washington instead of campaigning.
- McCarthy's assertion is aimed at splitting Democratic voters, undercutting unity and prompting a faster trial.
Pelosi is poised to end the weeks-long impeachment standoff without two big commitments she has consistently pushed for:
- A Senate resolution preemptively laying out the terms for the trial.
- An agreement on document and witness requests at the outset of the trial. (McConnell successfully secured the necessary Republican votes to move ahead on setting the trial rules without negotiating with Democrats.)
The bottom line: Now the trial will begin on McConnell's terms.
As of now, the resolution is expected to broadly follow the contours of former President Bill Clinton’s 1999 trial. ...
- House managers and Trump's defense team will deliver opening statements, after which senators will submit their questions to the chief justice, launching a Q&A period.
- During this time, the Senate as a body will determine whether to call new witnesses, seek more documents and any other similar requests.
- The leadership aide