House Democrats may never send the articles of impeachment to the Senate to begin President Trump’s trial, according to a top Democratic congressman.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Wednesday she wouldn’t name impeachment managers or send the articles to the Senate until Republican leaders in the chamber set terms for a trial that are fair to Democrats. The House voted to impeach Trump on two articles charging him with obstruction of Congress and abuse of power.
“The delay is made necessary because the majority leader of the Senate has made it very clear that he’s not going to be impartial, he’s not going to be fair, he will collude, if you please, with the White House — at least the White House’s attorneys — to decide how he will go forward. Why would the speaker of the House step into that without trying to determine exactly what the majority leader plans to do?” Rep. Jim Clyburn told CNN on Thursday.
Clyburn, who is the House majority whip, said he is willing to wait “as long as it takes” to transmit the articles of impeachment to the Senate.
“Are you suggesting it’s possible you will never transmit the articles of impeachment?” CNN anchor John Berman asked Clyburn.
“If it were me, yes, that’s what I’m saying. I have no idea what the speaker will do,” the South Carolina Democrat said.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said last week he will follow direction from Trump’s lawyers during an impeachment trial.
