Trump Impeachment: Mitch McConnell seeks impeachment trial delay until February

Mitch McConnell, the Senate Republican leader is proposing a delay in impeachment trial of Donald Trump to February, to give his team some time to prepare and review for the trial case. 

House, led by Democrats, had voted last week to impeach Trump for inciting the violence and Capitol Hill attack on January 6. The House wants quick progression into the trial with President Joe Biden beginning his term. Majority of representatives are in favor of stern action to bring justice to the heinous crime against American democracy and the sanctum sanctorum of it, Capitol Hill. 

During a call on Thursday with other GOP senators, McConnell said that a short delay in trial would help Trump’s legal team prepare for the case. 

Mike Braun, Indiana senator said that trial might begin by mid-February. He mentioned it is “due to the fact that the process as it occurred in the House evolved so quickly, and that it is not in line with the time you need to prepare for a defense in a Senate trial.” 

Timing of the trial will be set by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, as well as McConnell and Chuck Schumer, the new Senate Majority leader. Schumer is to lead the Senate according to the fact that Democrats won two Senate seats from Georgia that were the deciding seats for Senate win. But the divide is so narrow, that trial decision would be impacted by Republicans say. Currently, Schumer and McConnell are in negotiations on how to frame a 50-50 partisan divide in Senate. 

The key agendas in line, the legislation for which Democrats hope to pass on priority are trial proceeding and President Biden’s relief package including coronavirus relief fund. Their pass would need Republican support in Senate too. 

Pelosi is expected to send the trial article “incitement for insurrection” to Senate by Friday. On Thursday Pelosi said, “It will be soon, I don’t think it will be long, but we must do it.” 

Democrats and many Republicans are clear about one thing – Donald Trump must be impeached for the Capitol violence, which acted as the last straw in the sack. Nancy Pelosi said that in no condition does Trump deserve a “get out of jail card.” 

Mitch McConnell said this week that Trump had “provoked” his supporters leading to riots in the Hill. But he hasn’t confirmed if he would vote for his impeachment, but made a point referring to it to be a “vote of conscience”.