House in the t first place. For example, that one related great, things like executive privilege and weather testimony of other witnesses should be included in the Senate Impeachment trial. In other words, house was to tell the senate how to conduct trial. Would the house has job to do, and friendly, i think mishandled it. But now they have no say in the way the senate conducts impeachment trial. Would and if, Speaker Pelosi decides to send them over here. Twelve weeks was all it took for House Democrats to come up with what they believed was enough evidence to warrant a vote on articles of impeachment. And i think theyre experiencing some buyers remorse. During that 12 weeks, we repeatedly heard House Democrats how urgent the matter was. Seemingly using urgent for an excuse for a slapdash investigation that they did. They now regret it. So the house concluded that the rest investigation and passed to articles of impeachment, will expected those articles that we set to the senate promptly. Now this is only the third time in American History that the senate hits actually conveyed to trial on articles of impeachment. This is kind of a new novel process for most of us here in the senate. I think there are only 15 senators who are here during the last impeachment trial of president billo clinton. So most of us are trying do you get up tog speed to do and figue out how do we discharge our duty on the constitution. A sneak jury that will decide whether to convict or acquit and if convicted, whether theth president should be removed. This is serious stuff. And here we are about nine moons before the next general election. This strikes me a sneak serious matter. The 535 members of the United States congress to remove her president , that was voted into office with about 60 3m votes. This is very serious. Despite house leadership and members stating time and timeef again, before the Christmas Holidays how pressing a matter of impeachment was, there hasnt been an inch of movement in the house since those articles of impeachment will voted on. So here we are more than three weeks later, Speaker Pelosi still is playing heram cat and mouse game. With these articles of the appeasement. And last night the speaker has appeared to doug and her hills and deep would she sent a letter to her democratic colleagues about the delay. Following the majority leader News Announcement that every republican senator supports using exactly the same framework that was used during the clinton impeachment trial. The speakers you might a nudge in, wasnt particularly happy. Because her gambit, obviously didnt work. She has zero leverage. And she has zero right to try to dictate to the senate how we conduct the senate trial. Just like we have zero leverage in zero input and how the house conducted its responsibilities. Speaker pelosi told her caucus that the process was both unfa unfair designed to deprive senators and the American People a crucial documents and testimony. Clearly, she doesnt think those documents and testimony willlu crucial enough to be included in the house investigation and the first place but i digress. The speaker is fine to make the most out of a bad situation of her own creation. And intentionally trying to mislead the American People into thinking this framework prevents any witnesses testifying. Thats a false test is demonstrable sleep falls. That is a false parameter. These are the same parameters that guided him clinton impeachment process which witnesses work presented by sworn out of deposition. The Senate Testimony presented by the parties. So 1999, 100 senators agreed to dismantle. You would m think this was fair enough for president clinton, it wouldbe fair enough or President Trump. But to apply a different standard, wouldbe just that a double standard. All 100 senators agreed during the clinton impeachment trial, to allow impeachment managers to president their case and to allow their case then to permit their senators to ask the questions through the chief justice and do you get Additional Information and then and only then decide additional witnesses wouldbe required on the clinton model, now on the model that will be used the clinton model wouldbe using in the trunk impeachment, if members felt like they need it more information they can to hear from additional witnesses. The opportunity is Still Available to them on the clinton precedent that will be applied help impeachment trial. That is exactly what happened in the clinton impeachment trial. After the arguments and evidence was presented the senators voted to hear from three additional witnesses. Over the deposed and sworn testimony was in office and it makes me a little crazy would people say this is he question of witnesses or no witnesses. There about 17 witnesses as they count them and testified in the house impeachment inquiry and all about is available the managers to offer here in the senate. If in fact the senate decides is the senate did in the name clinton impeachment authorize subpoenas for three additional witnesses are andor more. That is still the w senate news prerogative. We why not foreclose in the lease. By this resolution. In the Intelligence Committee alone help seven public hearings with 12 witnesses the toll more than 30 hours. Presumably the proud, of the product and the evidence that was produced during the course of the series progressed they wouldve conducted them in the first place. So this isnt a matter of n witnesses or no witnesses. Some of her democratic colleagues in the media attempts to characterize it. Its a matter of loving parties to impeach 9700 for the case. Read the great honor over part ofou 13 years to serve a sneak state quote judge. I presided over hundreds of jury trials during the course of my experience a sneak district judge. Whenever a vaccine model for the jury decides how to try case. The jury says there and listens to thend evidence presented by e parties and thats exactly what we are proposing here. So this idea of leaving senators decide how to try impeachment managers case the presence case to something totally novel and unheard of. Setting the rules would and how is the speaker wants to do in the front end, makes no sense. Mr. President this is an analogy, like asking nfl coach frontline neverve play in the super bowl in order before the game actually starts. While that is not possible. Having discussions over the demands completely ignores this is simply not herer prerogative. I know the speakers are powerful political figures. She rules the house. With an irs. Her you in terms of how the senate conducts its business. Including impeachment trial of the constitution. So this is open likely a lot of dissent stumbling and misleading simply are true and the constitution outlines the chamber having a separate and independent responsibilities. As i said, just as the constitution gives house soul power impeachment is he quote from the constitution, it also gives the senate the soul power to try all impeachment. Nowhere is a parent in the cause the speaker the house, the representatives, Supreme Authority to decide this proce process. Yes, shes been very influential leading up to the vote on the articles of s impeachment. , with the senate had no voice. And no vote. But now, her job such as it is, is done. But a sound the articles of impeachment to the senate. Speaker pelosi news refusing transmit the articles and lesser demands are met a sneak violation of the separation of unprecedented power trap. I have some 79 with the speaker news position. Last march, impeachment was a bad idea. Because i was so divisive and unless the evidence was compelling, and the support for the articles of impeachment was bipartisan, it was worth it. And that was in march. 2019. Obviously, things change. The best i can tell she was essentially forced by the radical members of the House Democratic caucus to change her position and as you find yourself in an embarrassingly unintended tenable and unsustainable position. So this isnt entirely her fault. What you been playing games though the with the articles of impeachment, shes been infringing on the presence i think. The Constitutional Rights to due process of law. New processes based on fundamental notion of fairness. This white we record a civil or criminal. Six amendment for example, guarantees the right to speedy trial for every american and it is an exempt certain places no matter how high or low profile may be. While the sixth amendment right may not strictly apply, this is he civil or criminal case. All fundamental notion of fairness, does apply. Right to a speedyri trial. Ewell speaker policy dangles these articles of impeachment of the president by the sort of thing this has brought fair to the president. Its not fair to the senate. Its not fair most poorly, to the American People. This distraction, this impeachment mania has consumed so much oxygen and attention in washington dc, this prevented us from doing other things we know we can and should be doing that would benefit the American People. I come here on two occasions to offer peace of Bipartisan Legislation that would lower out of costs for drugs in the passage system. Only to e find the bipartisan bl voted unanimously judiciary committees, the only person that objected to us taking it up and was the democratic minority leader. So this is the sort of games that unfortunately, give washington and congress a bad name. In a bad reputation. I must say is president , this has brought just at the side of the aisle. In the times up for speaker policy is in the articles of impeachment over here. Theres bipartisan agreement here in the senate then is time to cut bait or fish. Policies california colleagues, print senator feinstein from california said going to do it, she should send them over. I dont see what good daylight does. Looking for senator feinstein. Our friend and colleague from connecticut senator blumenthal said we are reaching a point where the articles of impeachment should be set. And murphy, his colic from connecticut, said i think the ptime is past. She should send the articles over. I think well share the cinema expressed by senator angus came from maine. He said i do think that we need do you get this thing going. A sneak gift for understatement. Mr. Perez is high time for the speaker to quit using these articles of impeachment a sneak way to pander and most radical fringes of her party. The house is completed the constitutional role. In the lodge their inquiry. They did their investigation such as it was. They had a partisan vote. That is their prerogative. And i dont agree with that but that is their prerogative and the day. So mr. President speakers who said the articles of impeachment to the senate. That went out further delay so that we can continue perform our responsibilities on the constitution and the trial. Yield the floor. Senator from vermont. Mr. President , this is an interesting time. I am thinking that over the holiday break, house home and i talked to many vermonters. These are republicans and democrats independence, across trump. Itical all of them expressed concern about how the senate will handle the impeachment of President Trump. He has been impeached but now, it is the trial. So suspect that all 100 senators had similar conversations. Ive been asked not just about President Trump news actions in ukraine but how he will conduct the ground. What incentive is even capable of holding a genuine, fair trial. Worthy of our constitutional responsibility. I remember reminded senators that the start of the impeachment trial, we each sworn oath to do an impartial justice according to the constitution and laws. And to my 25 years in the chamber ive taken this oath six times. I think this whole part extraordinarily seriously. Othe cinemanow and the verge of an abandoning what this all means. The majority leader has bowed a quick acquittal before we hear any witnesses. The quote not an impartial juror. And he has pledged that there will be no difference between the president st position in or position how to handle this. Ignore the fact the United States senate is separate and independent body. Sexually with the majority later jack amount, or criminal defendant, to set the rules for his own trial. Our judge and jury promising a quick acquittal. This far cry oath and the United States constitution. I understand what the speaker did not rush to send the articles of impeachment to the senate by understanding this. A sham trial, is of no interest. I sit sham trials on a been a been in the presence it shows interest printed and according cory out acquittal exonerates no one. It serves only the deep and rich within the country. And it destroys the sentence constitutional role. How the senate a drug that connects the trial will be up to each of us. Its not up to the senators. It certainly not up to the president. The duration whether to call witnesses are compel document production. Will be excited by a simple majority of the United States senate. I know the many on the republican side said that we should postpone an agreement on witnesses. They did that for the president cleanse trial they argued it president would an hour. It sounds reasonable and thus you look at the facts. Its a troublesome thing. To day President Trump news instruction, nine key witnesses with firsthand knowledge of the allegation refused to cooperate with the house investigation. They said they were not allowed to testify. I compare that with the clinton trial. Including president clinton, provided testimony on oath. Before the trial. Indeed we have this for the president counsel to consider. Thirtysix boxes of material covering the most intimate details of the president s live. Just think of that. Every witness testified. As compared to the trump impeachment. It wouldnt allow any key witnesses toti testify. In though he said he wanted to testify. Of course he never did. Now even with all of that, even with those 36 boxes of material, the senate did end up hurting from three witnesses during the clinton trial. We tell you how that works. These are three witnesses that already given extensive, testimony. He testified for the grand jury for three days. He testified before the grand jury for five days. And is also imposed by the independent counsel. Mike allowing us he would testify two days before the grand jury. Was supposed but impending counsel. Was interviewed by independent counsel. Twenty times. Lets be clear. Ive heard these very girl in republican acknowledged that they did not expect new information from these witnesses. Republican and democrats the small group of senators. To be there for the three depositions. I was one of them. Resided with the linsky deposition. Would the house managers republican manager said, that the witnesses are consistent, the say the same before our according to the previous testimony and already before the senate. I told most fluency, obviously testified extensively in the grand jury. Sue going to obviously be things today. And the third house manager told mr. Jordan, i know that probably got every question have been asked has been asked. There might be answered. And indeed those republicans will correct. It was not easy material from these depositions. Unlike the flames made in the other side per the situation today why not be more different. The senate does not have any prior testimony or documents for four key witnesses. John bolton, nick mulvaney, robert blair, and michael duffey. All people have significant information about but donald trump is been charged with. We dont have any single documents. Would i have a single of testimony on oath. And why, because the president directed them not to cooperate. The house. Enough to testify. Not to say anything. If these witnesses performed, their legal duty and having been and they are cooperated with the house. We would it be in this position. And theres no question that all senators republicans and democrats alike will benefit. Premiering with this witnesses have to say. All of them have direct relevant information about President Trump news with respect to retain. Theres no good reason tooo postpone the testimony. Take just months. The National Advisory travel in. Son. My question of all of the center is this. They already know that according to mr. Bolton news lawyer, he was personally involved in many of the events. Makes and conversations that are not yet been discussed the testimonies thus far. Where any know that includes a oneonone conversation. With the president about ukraine. We already know mr. Bolden describe the presence aid in the drug deal. We now know is willing to talk with us for the First Time Since asked. How can we say we are fulfilling our constitutional duty if we dont even ask. How can we ignore such critical firsthand testimony. No matter how the ultimate the novote on guilt or innocence, te decision whether to keep both the senate and the market people in the dark, to effectively make the United States senate implicit in the cover up that would shape our system of checks and balances. For decades to come. Will haunt both democrats and republicans. The republicans much not pose close their eyes or ears. We should be senators. We should follow to uphold justice. And recognize of course, this is an era of deep president. That was true during the clinton impeachment trial. His true during the johnson t impeachment trial. The question in each of us has to answered now, is whether we will allow to label a democrat or republican to matter more than our constitutional role, as senators. We first four months, theres only hundred of us. To represent over 300 million americans. That is why iev believe that the senate is now on trial. I never seen trial that went out witnesses hooves facts are in dispute. I have tried many cases both in private practice and prosecutor. The members try to case where there are no witnesses. And more to the mic, eight senate has never had a president ial impeachment trial. That went out hearing from witnesses. The senate and the American People deserve to have the full story. We should it be complicit and cover up. Now i would not suggest that any center is our whole to require specific thing. That will depend upon the trowbridge i strongly believe that her own requires all senators behave impartially. All senators support a fair trial. One replaces the pursuit of truth. To this or any other president. Or setting the rules for the time to come. The senate has a job to do. Not to rate the trial in favor or against President Trump. Impeachment is the only constitutional mechanized him congress as a whole president s accountable. Whether or not the senate ultimately votes to convict if the senate first enables the government cover up with a sham trial, then enemies is placing one president of the constitution. Foundation of our democracy this prior to her 40 years. No one, no one is above the law. And president i yielded the floor. I see there waiting to speak. I yielded the floor. Impeachment of President Trump, continue to follow the process on cspan. Live unfiltered coverage. On cspan. Ondemand cspan. Org impeachment. In this on the free cspan radio app. Our campaign 2020 live coverage it continues today 7 00 p. M. Eastern on cspan2. With President Donald Trump in toledo, ohio and keep America Great valley. And on sunday at 3 00 p. M. Eastern on cspan. Senator michael bennet, is in bedford, new hampshire. Watch live, on cspan and cspan2. Ondemand at cspan. Org. Listen on the go with a free cspan radio app. Cspan News Washington internal live every day. With news and policy issues that impact you pretty coming up friday morning, john moran, former chief of staff and speaker nipsey pelosi, impeachment strategies. And then one of republican congressman, Michael Wallace talks about yesterdays houseboat on her more hours resolution to limit the Trump Administration from military actions against iran. Watch cspan News Washington journal. Five and seven eastern friday