Impeachment trial week in review Jan. 27 – Feb. 2
In this May 1, 2019 file photo, National security adviser John Bolton talks to reporters outside the White House in Washington.
MONDAY, Jan. 27 – Trump’s defense team continued their opening statements, with Alan Dershowitz taking the stand. Dershowitz argued that the charges against the president are too vague and went on to accuse House managers of “psychoanalyzing” Trump’s actions. Former Vice President Joe Biden was the focus of the majority of the defense team’s arguments, as they said the “significant evidence of corruption” against the Biden’s in Ukraine made Trump’s interest appropriate.
TUESDAY, Jan. 28 – Opening statements from Trump’s legal counsel wrapped up – with the defense not even using half of their allotted time to make their case. Dershowitz addressed Former National Security Adviser John Bolton’s book and argued that any claims would not “amount to impeachable offenses.”
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 29 – The 16-hour period of questioning for senators began. Senators wrote questions to Chief Justice Roberts who then directed the inquiries to House impeachment managers and Trump’s legal team. House impeachment manager Adam Schiff once again pleaded with senators to allow witnesses in later proceedings, saying that a fair trial can’t happen without them.
THURSDAY, Jan. 30 – Chief Justice Roberts refused to read a question from Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) allegedly naming the whistleblower that ignited the impeachment inquiry. Paul walked out of the chamber and held a press conference in which he said the rejected question “made no reference” to the whistleblower. Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) announced he would not vote for witnesses to be called in a statement on his website.
FRIDAY, Jan. 31 – The questioning period for senators ended on Friday morning. Four hours of debate took place between House impeachment managers and Trump’s defense team. Outside of the chamber, it was revealed in Former National Security Adviser John Bolton’s book that Trump asked for his help in arranging a meeting between Rudy Giuliani and Ukranian President Zelensky last May. Later that day, senators casted their votes on whether or not witnesses would be called to testify – which lost 49 to 51.
THE WEEK AHEAD: Senators will vote on whether or not Trump will be removed from office on Wednesday, Feb. 5 – following the State of the Union address.
