during the depositions that we ve conducted thus far, we ve used a format that we believe is very conducive to the fact-finding process. those-f procedures will be incorporated into thee open hearing in which staff counsel will be s permitted for lengthy periods of time to do sustained questioning, up to 45 minutes per side, followed by member questioning. we ve b used this to great succs for both parties during the course of the depositions, where in the depositions we have alternated oneve hour for the majority, one hour for the minority, 45 minutes for the majority, 45 minutes for the minority. in those depositions, over 100 members have been eligible to participate. i should tellib you that notwithstanding those that have complained about lack of access to the depositions, most of the members who have been permitted to attend have failed to attend, have not made use of the
leading up to this process, particularly in the judiciary committee. the president s counsel and supporters can cross-examination witnesses and raise objections to testimony that has already been givenha and it also gives e committee chair, who will be adam schiff, the right to take actions if the president unlawfully refuses to cooperate. once the evidence is reviewed by the judiciary committee, if necessary articles of impeachment will be reported to the house for a formal vote on the floor on whether or not to send this on to the senate for a full trial. speaker pelosi and house republican leader kevin mccarthy earlier today making their closing arguments. i don t know why the republicans are afraid of the truth. every member should support allowing the american people to heart facts for themselves. what is at stake is our democracy. what are we fighting for? defending our democracy for the people. the times have found each and every one of us in this room and
legal wrangling, and the stunts pulled by the tdemocrats, the kentucky fried chicken and the rest. what are you doing among yourselves to make sure that you present the best possible posture to the american people given the historic import of all this?mp first, recognizing, you know, we have a system of due process in america,st that even the president is entitled to that, despite the way that he judges people without evidence, he s going to be judged with a fair process. but also, e andrea, the speaker reminds us every single day that this is a solemn responsibility, it s nothing to be gleeful about. and if we send something to the senate, it will only be worth the fairness that was put into the process behind the facts. and thank you so very much, i know this is a busy day for all of you, thanks for being with us. right now the republicans are speaking. we re hearing from kevin mccarthy ofg california, of course the minority leader. let s m listen. a sham that has been putting
whistle-blower, as has already been attempted? good afternoon, andrea. today was a solemn day, it s one that none of us really looked forward to. but you re d right, we did affo, as we move to this public phase, a process, a process for the president as well as for republicans. i can t controlel how they spen their time. but it is time for them to get serious about what is alleged. of course we have seen efforts in the closed proceedings to out theoc whistle-blower. we saw the stunt of storming the secure room. but the american people are going to expect aeo seriousnesso this process. and i hope my colleagues awaken to just what the president did and what it means if we look the other way and don t least seek to hold him to account. with all due respect to congress and to your colleagues, we bothyo know what happened in the judiciary committee in the post-mueller hearings. first of all, it took months to even get mueller there, and
the articles of impeachment which will then be forwarded to the house floor for yet another vote before this goes to the senate, if it does become a serious impeachment effort that proceeds to the senate. joiningoc me now, donna edwards former democratic congresswoman and a contributor to the washington post. charlie sykes, political analyst, and rick tyler, msnbc news political analyst. donna, what are the political risks for democrats going into thisde election year? i think clearly the conduct of the proceedings that are coming is really important. i think that s why the resolution sort of lays out a process that allows staff counsel to askat questions. we ve seenun how that can go aw, it sets about a process that provides for the president of the united states to have counsel, to be able to call witnesses to present evidence. and the same for republican