Should McConnell Recuse Himself from the Senate Impeachment Trial?

by Countable's Trump Impeachment Coverage | 12.30.19

What’s the story?

• Democratic lawmakers are calling on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) to recuse himself from the Senate impeachment trial.
• Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Rep. Val Demings (D-FL) have said McConnell should recuse himself from overseeing the trial following comments by the GOP leader that he’s “not an impartial juror,” considers the upcoming trial a “political process,” and plans to coordinate with the White House.

"No court in the country would allow a member of the jury to also serve as the accused’s defense attorney. The moment Senator McConnell takes the oath of impartiality required by the Constitution, he will be in violation of that oath," Demings said in a statement.

• "The Senate rules provide the oath to be sworn by each Senator: 'I solemnly swear ... that in all things appertaining to the trial of the impeachment of President Donald John Trump, now pending, I will do impartial justice according to the Constitution and laws, so help me God'," Demings added, according to a statement on her official House website.

• Brown, in a separate statement, said McConnell had no "respect for the institution.” He added that his own biases against Trump were “immaterial” and he’d vote “based only on evidence.”
• House Judiciary Committee member Mike Johnson (R-LA) said calls for McConnell’s recusal are “absurd.”

"Everybody in the country now has seen the record. They've seen the facts and they've seen what supposedly is backing up these articles of impeachment—and there's nothing there," Johnson told host Brian Kilmeade on Tucker Carlson Tonight.

• President Donald Trump was impeached by the House for abusing his power and obstructing Congress in regards to his conduct with Ukraine.

What has McConnell said?

• McConnell has said there was "not anything judicial" about the impeachment process and called it a "political decision."

"I think it's pretty safe to say in a partisan exercise like this people sort of sign up with their own side. I think we're going to get an almost entirely partisan impeachment. I would anticipate an almost entirely partisan outcome in the Senate as well."

• Earlier this month, McConnell (R-KY), told Fox News:

"We'll be working through this process ... in total coordination with the White House counsel's office and the people who are representing the president as well as the Senate.”

What do you think?

Should McConnell recuse himself from the Senate impeachment trial? Should all lawmakers who have decided, pre-trial, how to vote recuse themselves? Take action and tell your reps, then share your thoughts below.

—Josh Herman