Impeachment trial of President Trump

By Meg Wagner, Mike Hayes and Veronica Rocha, CNN

Updated 0323 GMT (1123 HKT) January 23, 2020
91 Posts
Sort byDropdown arrow
5:20 p.m. ET, January 21, 2020

Senators are sharing candy and passing notes while they listen to the debate

From CNN's Kristin Wilson

There are signs senators are getting restless — or that the Senate is remarkably like seventh grade.

Sens. Tim Scott and Ben Sasse are digging into Sasse’s stash of candy – jawbreakers – whispering to each other and trading notes back and forth. At one point, Sen. Bill Cassidy stopped his note-taking to pass a note to Sasse, who added something to it and passed it on to Scott. 

When House Manager Adam Schiff said on the floor, “Let’s get this trial started, shall we?” he looked directly at White House counsel Pat Cipollone, who briefly met his gaze, then looked away.

Senators are also acutely aware of the alphabetical order when voting, standing up before their name is called.

There was also visitors from the House side: Reps. Mark Meadows, Lee Zeldin and Louie Gohmert all entered the chamber and watched from the back.

There are rumors that some senators have gone onto the floor wearing Apple watches. It’s possible that Senator Tim Scott is wearing one, though not completely clear from our vantage point.

5:20 p.m. ET, January 21, 2020

The Senate trial is back

The Senate trial has returned from its break. They're debating Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer's second amendment, which is about subpoenaing the State Department. 

It's not clear how many amendments Schumer could offer to the proposed trial rules.

5:16 p.m. ET, January 21, 2020

McConnell hopes to finish the trial in about a week and a half

From CNN's Manu Raju

J. Scott Applewhite
J. Scott Applewhite

Two sources in communication with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell say he wants this trial done in about 10 days. The way this schedule is laid out, it makes clear that goal is possible.

In his floor speech earlier today, McConnell warned about subpoenas for witnesses and documents, saying that “pursuing those witnesses” sought by Democrats “could indefinitely delay the Senate trial.”

If each side uses all 24 hours for opening arguments side, here's how the schedule could play out:

  • Tomorrow: Democratic arguments
  • Thursday: Democratic arguments
  • Friday: Democratic arguments
  • Saturday: Trump team arguments
  • Monday: Trump team arguments
  • Jan. 28: Trump team arguments
  • Jan. 29: Senator questions
  • Jan 30: Senator questions
  • Jan 31: Four hours of debate on whether to subpoena witnesses and subpoenas, a vote on witnesses and documents, and a vote on other motions; If all votes fail, the Senate could move to the acquittal vote
5:01 p.m. ET, January 21, 2020

GOP senator says she'll likely support a motion for witnesses

From CNN's Jeremy Herb and Phil Mattingly

J. Scott Applewhite/AP
J. Scott Applewhite/AP

Sen. Susan Collins, a Republican from Maine, just issued a statement on the impeachment trial and hinted some support for a motion on witnesses.

A key line from the statement indicates it is “likely” that she will support a motion to subpoena witnesses later in the trial after both sides present their cases.

"As I said last week, while I need to hear the case argued and the questions answered, I anticipate that I would conclude that having additional information would be helpful.  It is likely that I would support a motion to subpoena witnesses at that point in the trial just as I did in 1999," Collins said in the statement.

Here's the rest of her statement:

"The organizing resolution presented to the Senate today provides for a vote on whether to subpoena witnesses and documents at the conclusion of questions by Senators. This is the same point at which the Senate voted on witnesses and documents during the 1999 Clinton impeachment trial. In keeping with the model used in President Clinton’s trial, prior to hearing the case and the answers to Senators’ questions, I will vote to table any attempts by either side to subpoena documents or witnesses before that stage in the trial.

After hearing the case and asking questions, Senators will be able to make an informed judgement about what is in dispute, what is important, and what remains relevant to the underlying issues. That is one of the reasons why all 100 Senators agreed to this sequence during the Clinton trial."

4:49 p.m. ET, January 21, 2020

The Senate trial is taking a 10-minute break

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell just asked for a 10-minute break before debating Minority Leader Chuck Schumer's second amendment.

Chief Justice John Roberts, who is presiding over the trial, granted the request.

4:52 p.m. ET, January 21, 2020

Here's the second amendment Schumer is introducing

From CNN's Jeremy Herb

Senate TV
Senate TV

The Senate just voted on a motion to table Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer's first amendment to the proposed trial rules. That amendment requests a subpoena for certain White House documents.

The amendment was tabled on a party line vote.

Schumer's office has released his second amendment — this one is on subpoenaing the State Department. 

"The second amendment Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer will force a vote on during today’s impeachment trial proceedings will be for the Senate to subpoena certain Department of State documents and records," his office said.

4:46 p.m. ET, January 21, 2020

Motion to table first Schumer amendment passes

The motion to table House Minority Leader Chuck Schumer's first amendment calling for White House documents to be subpoenaed has passed.

The vote in favor was along party lines — 53 Republicans voted in favor, 47 Democrats voted against tabling the motion.

Democrats are now introducing a second amendment calling for the subpoena of documents and records from the State Department.

4:39 p.m. ET, January 21, 2020

Here's what senators are doing during today's debate on trial rules

From CNN's Clare Foran

During the brief recess prior to debate on the Schumer amendment, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell was engaged in conversation with a group of GOP senators, including Lamar Alexander, Todd Young, Mike Rounds, Roger Wicker and John Cornyn.

At one point, White House counsel Pat Cipollone approached the group — which at that point consisted of McConnell, Cornyn, Alexander and Tom Cotton — and began talking with them. Cipollone later wandered around the chamber, shaking hands with and saying hello to various members as he went. 

After the proceedings reconvened, senators took their seats. While McConnell sat straight back in his chair, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer slouched in his, at some points leaning his head into his hand. As House managers Adam Schiff and then Zoe Lofgren spoke, it was mostly quiet in the chamber apart from the rustling of papers as senators flipped through binders or took notes. Sen. Ted Cruz held what appeared to be a yellow highlighter in his mouth as he flipped through documents on his desk, then used the highlighter to make annotations. 

At one point, Sen. Tim Scott popped a piece of gum into his mouth, and Cornyn leaned over to Sen. John Barrasso to whisper a comment.

Senate pages have been coming in and out of the floor as the proceedings go on to refill glasses of water on senators’ desks and occasionally to bring in a note or a file folder.

During the proceedings, members of the President’s defense team as well as the House managers team could be seen whispering back and forth at the tables they are seated at. The House managers team could also be seen passing notes at their table. 

4:43 p.m. ET, January 21, 2020

The Senate is voting on a motion to table Schumer's amendment

Senate TV
Senate TV

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell just asked for a vote to table Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer's amendment.

The senators are voting now.