Senators sitting as impeachment jurors are supposed to be impartial and withhold judgment. But that’s more aspirational than realistic, as all 100 jurors are practicing politicians and six Democratic lawmakers are running for the White House in the hopes of beating President Trump in 2020.
House Democrats, who control the chamber, have indicated that they want to move quickly on bringing articles of impeachment, over the Ukraine whistleblower episode and potentially other matters. If impeached, senators will act as jurors in an impeachment trial and take an oath: ‘‘I solemnly swear (or affirm, as the case may be) that in all things appertaining to the trial of the impeachment of [President Donald Trump], now pending, I will do impartial justice according to the Constitution and laws: So help me God.’’
