DO DEMOCRATS NOW FEAR A TRIAL THAT THEY CANNOT CONTROL?
THE TRIAL MAY NEVER HAPPEN
The first sign of fear from the Democrats was Chuck Schumer sending a list of demands concerning the Senate trial even before a vote for impeachment. This was likely a feeling out of the opposition as to what to expect from the Republicans and the White House defense.
The White House and some supporters are in favor of a full blown trial lasting possibly months that would bring in Adam Schiff, the whistle-blower and his source, Hunter Biden and sworn testimony and witnesses from the Ukraine. They would also probably need to produce the witnesses that the Democrats claim they want.
Mitch McConnell and Lindsey Graham have made it clear they would like to have a short quick trial and just address the accusations and evidence voted on by the House. Both have legitimate reasons for their approach. McConnell believes if the Senate treats this impeachment seriously and ties up the Senate for months it will encourage more frivolous impeachments in the future.
The White House wants a full vindication by exposing the corrupt practices of Schiff and some in the National security council who initiated this Impeachment. Also vindicate his asking for investigations by Ukraine into corruption involving Hunter Biden.
The Democrats may want to call some of Trump's advisers to verify their claims, but that would be risky if Trump wins out for a full blown Trial including the Biden's and the whistle blower.
It is a verifiable fact that Hunter Biden and Devon Archer were being paid $166,000 a month by Burisma, a Ukrainian Gas Company. It is also a provable fact that Joe Biden threatened to withhold $1 billion in aid to Ukraine if it did not fire their prosecutor who it is alleged was investigating this corruption.
The Democrats may have hoped that the Senate would dismiss this impeachment and they could use it as a campaign issue in the next election. Schumer's demands were both a testing of the waters and a delaying tactic.
The other problem is can they trust that the trial will not broaden after it is started.
Rudy Giuliani claims he has documents and sworn witnesses that prove all the corruption concerning the Biden's in the Ukraine. It has been expanded to allegedly containing proof of diverting U.S. aid back to players in the U.S. and money laundering by Hunter Biden. Also that Marie Yovanovitch the U.S. ambassador conveyed to the Ukraine those names that were not to be prosecuted by Ukraine. Also that the U.S. embassy in the Ukraine refused to give visa's to Ukrainians who attempted to testify in the U.S.
Some Senator's have agreed to hear this evidence but not until after the Trial. They would like to not confuse the charges by the House with these matters.
McConnell has said that the ground rules of the trial is to be determined by the accused, which is Trump. I assume that all the meetings presently going on with the White House and his defense is to determine what that will be.
If it is indicated that if a lengthy and complete trial allowing all these issues to be aired is decided upon, the Democrats will likely not proceed to a trial. That will then create another controversy and more chess playing.
The Speaker knows she pulled the trigger too fast on this impeachment.She now has to delay it stretching it closer to the election.Who knows what the media will come up with and The Speaker will add it to the current articles of impeachment to keep it front page news.
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