{"articles":[{"reaction_config":[{"text":"Yes","color":"#624960","stance":"yes"},{"text":"No","color":"#4ac6ec","stance":"no"}],"id":41749,"title":" Vote Today: Should the Senate Acquit President Donald Trump?","html_content":"\n

by Countable's Trump Impeachment Coverage | 2.5.20

What’s the story?

\nThe impeachment trial of President Donald Trump will conclude around 4 p.m. today with a final vote to acquit him on two articles brought by the House: abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. \n
\nSenators are currently explaining their upcoming votes.\n
Republican Sen. Mitt Romney said Wednesday afternoon that he’ll vote to convict President Trump on the first article of impeachment: abuse of power.

“The president is guilty of an appalling abuse of public trust. A president can indeed commit acts against the public trust that are so egregious that while they are not statutory crimes they would demand removal from office.\"

What have been the arguments for and against impeachment?

Some Republicans are conceding that President Trump may have withheld Ukraine aid in exchange for investigations—but that this is not an impeachable offense.
White House lawyer Alan Dershowitz, for example, argued that a quid pro quo in pursuit of reelection isn't impeachable:

\"If a president does something which he believes will help him get elected in the public interest, that cannot be the kind of quid pro quo that results in impeachment.\"

Lead House impeachment manager Adam Schiff (D-CA) was incredulous over the above statement, and responded:

\"All quid pro quos are fine, it's carte blanche? Is that really what we're prepared to say?\"

Dershowitz also argued that removing Trump based on abuse of power would \"destroy\" the criteria for impeachment:

\"Bribery, a serious crime, or other high crimes and misdemeanors. Crimes or misdemeanors akin to treason and bribery. That's what the framers intended.\"

Schiff also responded to the above, saying:

\"If we are to interpret the Constitution now as saying that a president can abuse their power... None of the founders would have accepted that kind of reasoning.\"

\"If there is any possibility, if there is something that shows a possible public interest and the president could have that possible public interest motive—that destroys [Democrats'] case,\" said Patrick Philbin, deputy counsel to the president.
“We don’t believe that [House managers] have come anywhere close to meeting their burden for what they’re asking you to do,” said White House counsel Pat Cipollone, adding Democrats were asking senators to do something “dangerous” and “tear up all of the ballots across this country on your own initiative.”

“For all their talk about election interference … they’re here to perpetrate the most massive interference in an election in American history,” he said.

Democrats concluded three days of opening arguments late last Friday, with House impeachment manager Schiff's emotional final speech going viral:

What did Congress say about calling witnesses?

\nChief Justice John Roberts opened Friday’s session announcing there will now be \"up to four hours of argument by the parties, equally divided, on the question of whether or not it shall be in order to consider and debate under the impeachment rules any motion to subpoena witnesses or documents.\"
\nSen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN), who was seen as a possible swing-vote, said Thursday night he plans to vote against allowing witnesses and evidence into the impeachment trial.
\"There is no need for more evidence to conclude that the president withheld United States aid, at least in part, to pressure Ukraine to investigate the Bidens; the House managers have proved this with what they call a 'mountain of overwhelming evidence,'\" Alexander said in a statement.

\"Our founding documents provide for duly elected presidents who serve with 'the consent of the governed,' not at the pleasure of the United States Congress. Let the people decide.\"

\nGOP Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, who was considered another maybe vote, announced Friday morning that she’d vote no.
“The House chose to send articles of impeachment that are rushed and flawed. I carefully considered the need for additional witnesses and documents, to cure the shortcomings of its process, but ultimately decided that I will vote against considering motions to subpoena.\"

“Given the partisan nature of this impeachment from the very beginning and throughout, I have come to the conclusion that there will be no fair trial in the Senate. I don’t believe the continuation of this process will change anything. It is sad for me to admit that, as an institution, the Congress has failed.”

\nSen. Rob Portman (R-OH), another potential swing vote, also told reporters he’ll vote “no” on calling witnesses.

“I do not believe that additional witnesses are needed.\"

Portman continued: “I have said consistently for the past four months, since the Zelensky transcript was first released, that I believe that some of the president’s actions in this case – including asking a foreign country to investigate a potential political opponent and the delay of aid to Ukraine – were wrong and inappropriate. But I do not believe that the president’s actions rise to the level of removing a duly-elected president from office and taking him off the ballot in the middle of an election.\"
\nLead House impeachment manager Adam Schiff (D-CA) used his opening remarks on Friday to address the New York Times report which claims Trump ordered former national security adviser John Bolton to help with the Ukraine pressure campaign.

\"Just as we predicted, and it didn't require any great act of clairvoyance, the facts will come out. They will continue to come out. And the question before you today is whether they will come out in time for you to make a complete and informed judgment as to the guilt or innocence of the president,\" Schiff said.

Schiff added: \"So here you have the president saying John Bolton is not telling the truth. Let's find out. Let's put John Bolton under oath. Let's find out who is telling the truth. A trial is supposed to be a quest for the truth. Let's not fear what we will learn.”

Where are we now?

What do you think?

Today is the almost certainly the day that the Senate will convict or acquit the president. The third time in history the Senate has considered the question. Contact your reps now, and tell them if you want them voting YEA or NAY on convicting Trump. Also let them know if it will affect your 2020 vote. Then share your thoughts below.

–Josh Herman

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