“There are not many of us that are going to be able to go because they’re limiting it pretty dramatically,” Scalise said. “There are a lot of people that haven’t been before that want to go.”
Lawmakers can’t bring guests, although some have announced “virtual” guests instead to tout notable constituents in their districts.
Pelosi, who normally has a box of seats available to fill, announced Tuesday that Kenneth Tai, the chief health officer at a community health center in San Francisco, will be her virtual guest.
The footprint from other branches of government is also being scaled back dramatically, with most Cabinet and executive officials watching remotely.
“All of these are questions of first impression, in terms of constitutionality,” he added. “I certainly think there is a 14th Amendment avenue separate and aside from impeachment.”
The possibility of using the 14th Amendment comes as Democrats have publicly called for Trump to be blocked from holding office down the line. Trump riled up his supporters on Jan. 6 at a rally outside the White House and urged them to march to the Capitol, where rioters subsequently stormed the building in a melee that left five people dead.
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Chuck SchumerTrump allies line up ahead of potentially bruising primariesWhere to, Puerto Rico?Democrats make low-tax states an offer they should refuse MORE (D-N.Y.) has already pledged to hold a vote on blocking Trump from holding future office if the Senate votes to convict him as part of an impeachment trial for “willfully inciting violence against the Government of the United States.” Though conviction requires two-thirds support, bar
Whether Durbin will be chairman of the Judiciary Committee or ranking member will be determined next month because the two Georgia runoff elections will decide which party controls the Senate majority. Democrats also still need to formally approve who their top members on committees will be for the next Congress.
The power struggle marked a rare point of division among a Senate Democratic caucus that has prided itself on unity during the past four years. The battle spilled into public view after it tapped into long-simmering frustrations among younger and newer members about the perceived bottleneck to acquiring top committee and subcommittee positions.