“If you feel that you have no authority, then you can’t go on and say ‘well we have no authority but I guess I’ll go ahead and convict anyway,’ ” Hawley said. “I’d be surprised if many or any of those people change their minds on the underlying question of whether or not to oppose a penalty or not.”
Assuming every Democrat votes to find Trump “guilty,” they would still need 17 Republican senators to side with them in order to convict Trump, in what would amount to a historic first. On Tuesday, they got six to say the trial was constitutional.
The House impeachment managers, who will begin laying out their case against former President Trump
Senators on both sides of the aisle are anxious to get Trump’s second impeachment trial wrapped up in a week, and some even hope it can be finished over the weekend, but a decision to call witnesses could prolong it well into next week, when the Senate is scheduled to be on recess.
Democrats are eager to return to work on a coronavirus relief bill, which they hope to pass by March 14, when enhanced federal unemployment benefits are set to expire.
ADVERTISEMENT
While Democratic senators say they will work on a rescue package during the trial, the spectacle of reliving Trump’s actions before the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol will distract from those efforts.
Schumer, on Saturday, said leadership was making progress on every issue except Toomey s request. This is something that only materialized in the past few days and would leave the Treasury and the Fed with less authority than it had even prior to the pandemic, Schumer said.
Negotiators are also still trying to work out funding to help entertainment venues amid a push to expand that funding to zoos and other tourism-driven businesses. And Republicans are wary of adding a $90 billion pot of money for the Federal Emergency Management Agency that they worry is a back door for adding money for state and local governments.
ADVERTISEMENT
“The quickest way to get money into the pockets of the American people is too send some of their tax dollars right back where they came from. So let s step up the plate. . I support Senator Sanders s request fully and hope the Senate will consent,” Schumer said.
Hawley and Sanders let Congress pass a one-week continuing resolution (CR) last week but warned that they viewed the ongoing negotiations as a leverage point.
Hawley warned earlier Friday that he could hold up a CR until he gets details on what is being negotiated as part of the coronavirus package, which would be tied to a $1.4 trillion government funding package.