McConnell says 'no haggling' as impeachment standoff deepens

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By LISA MASCARO, MARY CLARE JALONICK, ALAN FRAM and LAURIE KELLMAN

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Wednesday there will be “no haggling” over the process for President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial in a deepening standoff with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi over Democratic demands for details and more witnesses.

McConnell has indicated Republicans have the leverage they need to launch Trump’s trial on his terms, but Pelosi’s reluctance to transmit the articles of impeachment leaves the Senate proceedings at a standstill.

A resolution is expected this week in the showdown that is testing the negotiating skills of the two seasoned leaders as they face off over the rare impeachment trial, only the third in the nation’s history.

The House impeached Trump last month on charges that he abused the power of his office by pressuring Ukraine’s new leader to investigate Democrats, using as leverage $400 million in military assistance for U.S. ally as it counters Russia at its border. The funding for Ukraine was eventually released but only after Congress intervened.



Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., joined by Majority Whip John Thune, R-S.D., left, and Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, tells reporters he has secured enough Republican votes to start President Donald Trump's impeachment trial and postpone a decision on witnesses and documents Democrats want, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday Jan. 7, 2020. The trial could start as soon as this week if House Speaker Nancy Pelosi releases the articles of impeachment. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)


Read more: https://apnews.com/698067e211b6d0f61d98c2277e459c57

[OneCrazyDiamond]

1. So is that it?

Where to now?

Asking generally.

[ArizonaLib]

12. He is still in a bind

If he goes ahead without Pelosi submitting the articles, he puts the president on trial which is something he was avoiding in the first place - looks bad to all voters. If he completes a trial and exonerates the president, Pelosi can still submit the articles afterward and McConnell is still required to act. If he does nothing and allows the articles to sit as they are now, the last all voters hear is that the president was impeached and the senate did not exonerate him, and the Democratic candidates get to use this narrative as much as they choose to until November.

The only thing in this case that McConnell can do is whatever appeases his base. He may choose to either hang tight and see what bubbles up in the conservative echo chamber or get creative and do something soon. It looks like Pelosi has him in a bind.

After all is said and done with these articles, the Democrats can open new hearings and impeach on any number of other things. They can investigate, report and impeach until November. The Democrats can also threaten to go to the supreme court if McConnell gets too creative after the articles are submitted. The longer this hangs out as an issue the worse it gets for Republicans. People in general do not like to be led by criminals - any blue wave will build steam in places Republicans have not heard from in decades.

[Jopin Klobe]

2. McConnell ... slime ...

... ugly-souled, traitorous, nasty slime ...

[Newest Reality]

3. No Haggling????

Are you joking?

[Stuart G]

4. I see, "No haggling" over impeachment..Get it done quickly as Trump says....But wait...

Just a moment...Pelosi can determine when to release those articles of impeachment.. Did McConnell allow a vote on Obama's choice for the "Supreme Court"? I do not think there ever was a vote on that. Was there?

I remember that one. McConnell cannot force Pelosi to do anything. Is that correct. F**K McConnell.

[maxsolomon]

5. EVERYTHING in Congress is "haggling".

Such a disingenuous reptile.

[machoneman]

6. If The Turtle said that, he's worried and udner WH/Trumpian pressure, for sure.

Great!

[JudyM]

7. Wish there'd been a trigger warning for that photo.

[SergeStorms]

10. Yeah, I threw up in my mouth a little.

And after seeing that I'm sending another $25 to Amy McGrath. We have to send Moscow Mitch packing. He's a close second in importance to replacing Trump.

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

8. Hey Mitch!

Merrick Garland..……. suck on that for a while. I hope Nancy makes him wait all damn summer if she can.

[BumRushDaShow]

9. If he has nothing better to do than whine, then he needs to start scheduling those 400 bills

the House sent him this past year, that are piled up at his doorstep, waiting for him to process for Senate review. I suppose he wants to run out the clock on all of that work the House did since the bills would expire at the end of this Congressional session.

[ancianita]

11. Speaker Pelosi: Not until I know the articles of impeachment will be received in an IMPARTIAL ARENA

[czarjak]

13. When making sure he gets away with it is Job #1?