Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) made an important change to the rules for the impeachment trial against President Trump on Tuesday just before the trial began.
#BREAKING: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell makes changes to his proposed trial rules:
— Jennifer Franco (@jennfranconews) January 21, 2020
*24 hours alloted to both sides for opening statements over 3-days,rather than 2
*evidence will be automatically admitted unless a Senator objects
With an additional day for opening statements, the maximum time for debate will be 8 hours a day instead of 12. Democrats had complained about McConnell's initial timeline, arguing that he was trying to hide the trial from the public, who would likely not be tuning in at midnight.
McConnell added that he'll "move to table" any amendment proposed by his Democratic counterpart Chuck Schumer (D-NY). And he plans to introduce quite a few, Schumer revealed on Capitol Hill Tuesday morning.
Schumer said his first amendment will be to ask senators to subpoena White House documents — including on the decision to freeze military aid to Ukraine.
— POLITICO (@politico) January 21, 2020
He’ll then offer several amendments on witnesses, documents and changes to McConnell’s rules https://t.co/HNomCLkuPa pic.twitter.com/wUTnKs0Xfu
Democrats want to hear from more witnesses like former national security advisor John Bolton and acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney. House Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler (D-NY) alleged that any Republican senator who votes against a measure to allow additional witnesses will be complicit in a White House "cover-up."
Before witnesses, however, Schumer demanded that the White House cough up additional documents related to the impeachment inquiry.
