CNN host Jake Tapper questioned California Rep. Adam Schiff’s strategy of withholding articles of impeachment from the Senate.
Democratic leaders, including Schiff and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, have decided to withhold the two articles of impeachment that passed in December from the Republican-controlled Senate until they agree with the trial rules. Pelosi hoped that the decision would give Democrats leverage in getting additional witnesses to testify in the Senate following a rushed impeachment in the House.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, however, doesn’t seem intimidated by Pelosi’s decision to withhold the articles and claimed he was in “no rush” to begin the Senate trial if the speaker won’t turn over impeachment to the upper chamber.
On Sunday’s State of the Union, Tapper asked Schiff why they think withholding impeachment is a good idea when McConnell seems completely fine with waiting indefinitely.
“McConnell’s not going to do what you guys want him to do,” Tapper told Schiff.
Schiff replied, “Well, McConnell, I think is, one success that this has already had is flushing out McConnell. Showing that he’s working in cahoots with the president, and he has made himself an active participant in the president’s cover-up. So, the American people needed to see that, and now they do.”
Tapper interjected, “So, you’re never gonna get what you want, though. Isn’t that what you’re saying?”
Schiff said that “wasn’t necessarily the case” and claimed that some Republican senators might reconsider their position and vote with Democrats after feeling pressure from Pelosi’s demands for more witnesses.
“Both Democrats and Republicans are now having to go onto the record and say, ‘Do we want witnesses? Do we want to see the documents? Do we want the American people to hear the evidence? Do we want a real trial? Or do we want a cover-up?’” Schiff explained.
The House Intelligence Committee chairman didn’t say how long Pelosi will hang onto the process but added, “I don’t think it’s going to be indefinite.”
