During President Trump's impeachment trial Wednesday night, Kentucky Senator Rand Paul submitted a question for Democrat impeachment managers. More specifically, for Congressman Adam Schiff. Chief Justice John Roberts refused to read it. From The Hill:
A source confirmed that Roberts has indicated he would not read a question from Paul regarding the whistleblower at the center of the House impeachment inquiry.
The question from Paul is expected to name the individual. Because Roberts is responsible for reading the questions that would put him in the position of publicly outing the person on the Senate floor.
Paul indicated to reporters after a closed-door Republican dinner that he was not backing down from trying to ask his question.
“It’s still an ongoing process; it may happen tomorrow,” the libertarian-leaning senator told reporters as he headed back to the Senate chamber.
This morning Paul sent the question again, which Roberts again refused to read.
Rand Paul: I have a question to present to the desk for the House manager Schiff and for the president's counsel.
— POLITICO (@politico) January 30, 2020
*Chief Justice John Roberts receives and reads Paul's written question*
Roberts: The presiding officer declines to read the question as submitted pic.twitter.com/HC0QGht4V1
This prompted Senator Paul to post the question he planned to ask on his twitter page.
My question today is about whether or not individuals who were holdovers from the Obama National Security Council and Democrat partisans conspired with Schiff staffers to plot impeaching the President before there were formal House impeachment proceedings.
— Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) January 30, 2020
My exact question was:
— Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) January 30, 2020
Are you aware that House intelligence committee staffer Shawn Misko had a close relationship with Eric Ciaramella while at the National Security Council together 1/2
and are you aware and how do you respond to reports that Ciaramella and Misko may have worked together to plot impeaching the President before there were formal house impeachment proceedings. 2/2
— Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) January 30, 2020
My question is not about a “whistleblower” as I have no independent information on his identity. My question is about the actions of known Obama partisans within the NSC and House staff and how they are reported to have conspired before impeachment proceedings had even begun.
— Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) January 30, 2020
It is unclear if Paul will send the question again, but he did break Senate rules by stepping out to speak with reporters.
Sen. @RandPaul: "My question made no reference to any whistleblower…"
— CSPAN (@cspan) January 30, 2020
He then reads the question.
"I think this is an important question. One that deserves to be asked." pic.twitter.com/NVr0IwPvXa
Sen. Rand Paul left the chamber after Chief Justice John Roberts declined to read his question.
— ABC News (@ABC) January 30, 2020
"The presiding officer declines to read the question as submitted," the Chief Justice said. https://t.co/T1f9qedcWT pic.twitter.com/7irW4UtprU