Trump says he's open to witnesses as trial rules are set

[usaf-vet]

Source: AP

By LISA MASCARO and ZEKE MILLER 21 minutes

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Senate plunged into President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial with Republicans abruptly abandoning plans to cram opening arguments into two days but solidly rejecting for now Democratic demands for more witnesses to expose what they deem Trump’s “trifecta” of offenses.

Trump himself said Wednesday he wants top aides to testify, but qualified that by suggesting there were “national security” concerns to allowing their testimony.

“We have a great case,” Trump said at a global economic forum in Davos, Switzerland. In a press conference before returning to Washington, Trump said his legal team was doing a “very good job.”

He appeared to break with Republicans efforts to block Democratic motions to immediately call witnesses and subpoena documents. Instead, Trump said he’d like to see aides, including former national security adviser John Bolton, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney, testify as witnesses

Read more: https://apnews.com/2cb8c0b71160268b52a90335e0e5ce47

[thesquanderer]

1. Dems should counter by saying they can testify behind closed doors, with transcripts...

...that could be reviewed (and redacted for "national security" reasons if need be) before being released.

[Javaman]

2. I would pay to see that. LOL nt

[usaf-vet]

4. Caveat emptor !!

Latin for "Let the buyer beware".

Especially when dealing with a known liar and con man.

[Javaman]

7. Oh I know, I play boardlands 2 lol ;) I'll take that risk. nt

[usaf-vet]

10. Good luck. Keep fighting!

[TheCowsCameHome]

3. Oh, shut up. You're the defendant.

Jesus, what a dumb fuck.....

[bucolic_frolic]

5. There are times I think Trump buffoonery is all an act

like a mobster caught wandering around the streets in his pajamas as he feigns mental illness

[turbinetree]

6. His same old shit line of full of shit................................like trust me I am honest.....

while he stabs you in the back.........................fuck him.................

[chowder66]

8. Republicans are giving him cover to say this to make it seem like he's willing. He knows full well

they are not going to allow witnesses. It's a ruse.

Or he's off his meds today.

[groundloop]

9. So in other words the fix is already in for NO WITNESSES

tRump will now be able to claim he was willing to cooperate on witnesses but there was some national security technicality that made it impossible.

[bluestarone]

11. Mcturtle is covering tRUMPS back! SO

tRUMP can say this KNOWING it won't happen!!

[patphil]

12. Exactly!

Trump knows it ain't gonna happen so he can pretend he is in favor if it.

[truthisfreedom]

13. Says the man in charge.

[Cornell Engineer]

14. Simple Math

lawless president + fake investigations + sham impeachment = failed democracy

Who needs to worry about getting attacked by foreign terrorists when we got a bunch of home-grown Banana Republicans already in control of the capital? The GOP has managed to do something that Al-Qaeda or the Taliban could never have accomplished on their own. Way to go, Pubbies!

Now I know what the Ancient Romans felt like when they had Caligula calling the shots.

[sueh]

15. Oh, yeah. Just like he said he'd release his tax returns when the audit is completed.

What an ass!