Small cracks in GOP unity have appeared, with two Republican senators criticizing McConnell’s pledge of “total coordination” with the White House during the impeachment trial.
A separate but related fight flared Monday in the courts, where the House Judiciary Committee held open the possibility of adding to the articles of impeachment against Trump depending on whatever testimony it can obtain from former White House counsel Don McGahn.
McConnell has all but promised an easy acquittal of the president.
She said that nothing short of the future of democracy was at stake. “If we do not act now, we would be derelict in our duty,” she said.
Pelosi called it “great day for the Constitution of the United States, a sad one for America that the president’s reckless activities necessitated us having to introduce articles of impeachment.”
What’s historic about this moment is the near-complete dysfunction of, and loss of confidence in, American democracy
The Democratic-majority House is expected to approve the charges against Trump next week, but the Republican-controlled Senate is likely to acquit him after a January trial.
“I want the members on both sides of the aisle to think about what has happened over these past two days and to search their consciences before they cast their final votes.”
The measure is likely to pass the House next week just before the House votes on impeaching Trump. A Senate vote is expected before a temporary spending bill expires next Friday at midnight.
“When his time has passed, when his grip on our politics is gone, when our country returns, as surely it will, to calmer times and stronger leadership, history will look back on our actions here today.”