CHIEF JUSTICE TO BE SWORN IN LATER
by Sharon Rondeau
(Jan. 16, 2020) — At 12:21 p.m. EST, House Intelligence Committe Chairman and House impeachment manager Adam Schiff finished reading the Articles of Impeachment approved by the House of Representatives on December 18.
The Articles say that Trump abused his power in his dealings with Ukraine and obstructed the House’s ability to obtain documents. Schiff said that Trump’s allegedly unprecedented behavior warrants conviction in the Senate, removal from office, and preclusion from holding any other federal office, as the U.S. Constitution states.
Schiff read specific names of administration officials who the White House would not allow to testify during House hearings between late September and December 18.
The Articles were delivered to the Senate in a formal procession late Wednesday afternoon.
After Schiff finished reading the Articles, Schiff and the six other House impeachment managers left the chamber, at which point Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell announced the appointment of four escorts of the chief justice of the Supreme Court into the Senate chamber to be administered the oath of office, which will take place at 2:00 p.m. Thursday.
The escorts are Sens. Roy Blunt (R-MO), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA).
Chief Justice John G. Roberts will preside over the Senate trial.
Sen. Charles Grassley served as Senate Pro Tem, gaveling out the hearing at 12:23.
The trial is expected to begin next Tuesday.