After more than 12 hours of debate and procedure Tuesday, the first full day of President Trump's impeachment trial finally concluded. In the early morning hours, Republican Senators voted to adopt Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's rules for the trial.
Throughout the day House managers for the Democrats, including Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, repeatedly made the argument that the case against President Trump is so strong, he would surely be convicted in a court of law. Democrats repeatedly made this argument, despite failing to name a crime in the two articles of impeachment they voted to pass last month.
But they also argued that Senators will fail to carry out their duties if they do not call additional witnesses or subpoena more documents from the executive branch to prove President Trump's guilt.
By making both of these arguments at the same time, House managers cancel out both of them. White House Counsel Pat Cipollone made this point during debate yesterday.
WH counsel Pat Cippollone destroys the Democrats' absurd argument
— Elizabeth Harrington (@LizRNC) January 21, 2020
Dems: "Our case is overwhelming!"
Also Dems: "We need more evidence!"
Ridiculous pic.twitter.com/EeY1tyztrH
House Democrats are demanding the Senate do the job they failed to do and refused to use the courts to compel witnesses for testimony in the initial inquiry.
Stunning admission by the House Managers.
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) January 22, 2020
The House Managers on the floor admitted that going to federal court would get in the way of impeaching the President before the election. And in that case — the Court be damned!
Even Senate Democrats, like Hawaii's Mazie Hirono, are admitting a lack of thorough investigation from their colleagues in the lower chamber.
WATCH:
— Mark Bednar (@MarkBednar) January 21, 2020
Sen. Hirono, who has already said she will "vote to convict him," tells CNN that House Dems didn't do their job:
"If we were following the Clinton precedent, there would have been all of this discovery done at the House level, and that's not what's happening at all." pic.twitter.com/oOY30SUTRn
You cannot argue a case is so strong President Trump is bound to be convicted, while also demanding you need additional information to prove your case. It's one or the other. As usual House Democrats, led by Adam Schiff, want to have it both ways.