Several senators have been caught playing with small toys, reading, or doing other activities while impeachment proceedings drag on.
GOP Sen. Richard Burr of North Carolina passed out fidget spinners, small toys used to ease anxiety and boredom, to colleagues on the Senate floor Thursday before proceedings began, according to NBC News. Burr spun a blue one while Democratic Rep. Jerrold Nadler, one of the House impeachment managers, argued in favor of convicting President Trump.
GOP Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas had a purple spinner on his desk, and GOP Sen. Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania had a white one on his. GOP Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky sketched on a notepad during arguments, and GOP Sen. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee read a book.
[Read more: ‘Resign tomorrow’: Chris Hayes slams GOP senators for dozing off during impeachment trial]
Some other observations from the last half hour: @SenatorBurr has a fidget spinner, @RandPaul has quite the sketch of the Capitol going, and @MarshaBlackburn is reading a book.
— Garrett Haake (@GarrettHaake) January 23, 2020
On Twitter, Washington Post blogger Jennifer Rubin called Blackburn’s conduct “shameful.”
“First – I’m reading Resistance (At All Costs) by Kim Strassel. Read the chapter on obstruction. It provides good insights into today’s proceedings,” Blackburn tweeted in response. “Second – busy mamas are the best at multi-tasking. Try it.”
First – I’m reading Resistance (At All Costs) by Kim Strassel. Read the chapter on obstruction. It provides good insights into today’s proceedings.
Second – busy mamas are the best at multi-tasking. Try it. https://t.co/AEHW19ZztL
— Sen. Marsha Blackburn (@MarshaBlackburn) January 23, 2020
