First things gfirst. The middle and end of this process will come later. So i look forward to meeting with the democratic leader very soon and getting our important conversation back on the right foot. I just listened to leader mcconnells lengthy response to my letter proposing the impeachment trial in the senate. Im leader mcconnell was apparently upset that i sent him the letter on sunday. Saying the first step was for the two leaders to meet and then discuss the resolution. Well, if we were allowed to show a video here on the senate floor of the Republican Leaders appearance on Sean Hannitys program last week, it would expose the fallacy of his argument. Leader mcconnell unfortunately skipped his first step twhen he began publicly talking about the rules of the senate trial, telling hannity that he be taking cues from the white house and his idea for how to conduct a trial. Long before any conversation which he still hasnt had with me. My letter was intended as a goodfaith proposal to kickstart the discussions that leader mcconnell has so far delayed in scheduling. I still expect we will sit down and discuss trial parameters , despite his public appearances on fox news. But let me say this. I listened to the leaders speech. I did not hear a single sentence , a single glargument as to why the witnesses i suggested should not give testimony. Impeachment trial like most trials havewitnesses. Who have none would be in operation. Why is the leader, why is the president so afraid of having these witnesses come testify. What are they afraid the witnesses would say. I like to hear leader mcconnell come to the floor and give specific reasons why the four witnesses weve asked for shouldnt testify. I dont know what they will h say area they might have something that President Trump appointee, they might have something exculpatory to say aboutPresident Trump. Or they might not. But they certainly, the four key people who saw exactly what was going on, what is leader mcconnell afraid of . What is President Trump afraid of. The truth . But the American People hwant the truth and thats why we have asked the witnesses and documents to get at the whole truth and nothing but. This week, the house of representatives will vote on articles of impeachment against the president of the united states. If these articles past the house, the constitution dictates that the senate serve as the court of impeachment, conducting an impeachment trial. Mister president , its a tremendously weighty and solemn responsibility entrusted to us by its founders area if such a trial is to happen, democrats strongly believe it must be fair and the American People must regard it as fair area a fair trial is one that allows senators, a fair trial is one that llallows senators to get all the relevant facts. To adjudicate the case impartially. In the letter i sent to leader mcconnell i proposed a reasonable disruption for a fair trial area i sent that same letter to every one of my colleagues, democrat and republican. Theres a grandtradition in america , speedy and fair trial. We want both. The leader seems obsessed with speedy and wants to throw fair out the window. To simply repeat arguments made in the house and senate when there are witnesses and documents that could shed light on what actually happens. Why not have them . Lets hear a single word of answer tothat. We heard none. And in fact the American People want it as well. A poll today in the washington post, abc, 72 percent of americans want to hear these witnesses. 64 percent of republicans do. The American People are fair. They dont want tocover up. They dont want concealment this is weighty stuff. The house has put together a very strong case. The president abused his power and wanted to let a foreignpower interfere in our election. That goes to the heart of what our democracy is. And what the foundingfathers warned against. And now, to not allow witnesses to come forward who would be able to discuss what actually happened. If we dont have them, the trial will be fair. The four witnesses we propose have direct knowledge of why aid to ukraine was delayed. And the administrations request for ukraine to conduct to investigations for political reasons. They haddirect knowledge of those facts. We dont know as i said what kind of evidence they will present. It may be incriminating. Maybe exculpatory. It may influence how senators vote and it may not. But they certainlyought to be heard. By virtue of their senior positions in the white house, each witness we named was directly involved in the events that led to thecharges made by the house. Weve also proposed subpoenaing Certain Records including emails by certain key officials that are directly related to the charges brought by the house. I believe these documents are also of great importance to making sure senators have the information necessary to make a fully informed decision, this terribly weighty decision. The house has built a very strong case against the president. Maybe thats why leader mcconnell doesnt seem to want witnesses. At least, not agreed to them now. Maybe thats why the president is afraid, because the house case is so strong that they dont want witnesses might corroborate it. The evidence the house puts together includes public testimony. Given under oath by numerous senior officials appointed by siPresident Trump. Either appointees we are calling, not some partisan democrats area but some republicans senators have said that while the charges are serious, they havent seen enough evidence to make a decision. Thats one of the reasons. I propose subpoenas for these witnesses and documents, all directly relevant. From officials who have yet to testify under oath during any stage of the house process. Senators who oppose this plan will have to explain why less evidence is better than more evidence. Again, let me say that. Every senator in this room, democrat and republican, senators who oppose this plan will have to explain why less evidence is better than more evidence. And theyre going to have to explain that position to a public that is understandably skeptical when they see an administration suppressing evidence and blocking senior officials from telling the truth about what they know. Let me repeat this washington abc poll. Just this morning, i read about it in the paper. This morning. 71 percent of americans leave the president should allow his top aides to testify in a potential senate trial. 72 percent of independentsand 64 percent of republicans. 64 percent of republicans think that the President Trump should allow his top aides to testify in a potential senatetrial area seven out of 10 americans. The American People have a wisdom that seems to be lacking with some of my colleagues. At the trial without witnesses is not a trial. Its a rush to judgment, its a sham trial. The American People understand trial without relevant documents is not a fair trial. Again, a desire not to, not for sunlight but for darkness to conceal facts that may well be very relevant to the American People understand if youre trying to conceal evidence and what testimony, its probably not because the evidence is going to help your case. Its because youre trying to cover something up. Mister president , resident trump, are you worried about what thesewitnesses would think . If youre not worried, let him come forward and if you are worried, we ought to hear from them. I havent heard again, the leader went on for 15,20 minutes. Not getting a single argument for why these witnesses should testify or these documents should be produced. Unless the president has something to hide. In the coming weeks, every senator will have a choice. Do they want a fair,honest file that examines all the facts. Or do they want a trial that doesnt let all the facts come out. We will have both. During this proceeding, to the house send it to us after voting for it, when they send it to us, we will have votes on whether these people should testify. And whether thesedocuments should be made public. And part of the trial. And the American People will be watching. They will be watching. Who is more open and fair trial. Who is for hiding facts, relevant facts, immediate facts. Who is for covering up. I expect to discuss this proposal for a fair trial with leader mcconnell but each individual senator will have both the power and responsibility to help shape what an impeachment trial looks like. In federalist 65, Alexander Hamilton wondered quote, where else but in the senate could have been found a tribunal sufficiently dignified or sufficiently independentto serve as a court of atimpeachment . What other body would be likely to feel confident enough to preserve on on and influenced the necessary impartiality. My colleague , leader mcconnellol, are you and in Alexander Hamiltons words on influenced to produce the necessary impartiality . Or will you participate in a coverup . Can we live up to hamiltons fine words with dignity, independence, confidence. To preserve the necessary impartiality to conduct a fair trial. That question should weigh heavily upon every single senator. The u. S. Senate now in recess until 2 15 eastern as they attend their weekly party lunches. Today lawmakers work finished work on the bill which includes the establishment of a space force within the us air force and among other items of 3. 1 percent military pay raise and 12 weeks of paid parental leave for federal employees. When the Senate Returns at 2 15 we will have live coverage right here on cspan2 area
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