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by Countable's Trump Impeachment Coverage | 1.2.20

What's the story?

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) is renewing calls for key Trump administration figures to testify during the Senate impeachment trial following a \"game changer\" report in the New York Times detailing White House efforts to withhold nearly $400 million in military aid to Ukraine.

“Simply put, in our fight to have key documents and witnesses in a Senate impeachment trial, these new revelations are a game changer,” Schumer said at a press conference earlier this week.

President Trump was impeached by the House for abusing his power and obstructing Congress. He is accused of leveraging Congressionally-approved military aid to Ukraine in exchange for investigations into 1) former vice president Joe Biden and his son, Hunter 2) a debunked conspiracy theory alleging Ukraine interfered in the 2016 election.
Among other revelations, the Times reported that Trump declined to release Ukrainian military aid despite appeals from former national security adviser John Bolton, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and Defense Secretary Mark Esper. It also revealed the role White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney played in withholding the aid.

\"This new story shows all four witnesses we Senate Democrats have requested were intimately involved and had direct knowledge of President Trump’s decision to cut off aid in order to benefit himself,\" Schumer said.

Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) said on Monday that she is \"open\" to calling witnesses as part of the Senate impeachment trial, though she stressed it's still too early to decide whom should be called.

\"I am open to witnesses. I think it's premature to decide who should be called until we see the evidence that is presented and get the answers to the questions that we senators can submit through the Chief Justice to both sides,\" Collins told Maine Public Radio when asked about calling Mulvaney or Bolton.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) has said he hasn't ruled out calling witnesses, but indicated he's also in no hurry to seek new testimony.
“We haven’t ruled out witnesses,” McConnell said in a December interview with “Fox and Friends.” “We’ve said let’s handle this case just like we did with President Clinton. Fair is fair.”
Clinton's Senate trial involved opening statements, a written-question period, and a decision about whether to call witnesses.

“That [Clinton's impeachment] was a pretty partisan exercise, but we didn’t let the partisan part of it keep us from getting started. So all I’m doing is saying what was good enough for President Clinton is good enough for President Trump.”

What do you think?

Should the Senate call witnesses for the impeachment trial? If so, whom? Take action above and tell your reps, then share your thoughts below.

—Josh Herman

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