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babylonsister

(171,064 posts) Wed Jan 29, 2020, 10:41 PM Jan 2020

Dem senator to force vote requiring Roberts to weigh in on witnesses

TheHill.com
Dem senator to force vote requiring Roberts to weigh in on witnesses
By Jordain Carney - 01/29/20 08:31 PM EST

Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) is planning to force a vote on Friday to require Chief Justice John Roberts to subpoena impeachment witnesses who he believes are relevant and also rule on any claims of executive privilege.

The move comes as GOP senators are increasingly confident they will have the votes to block witnesses from being called.

If Democrats are able to muster four GOP votes to allow witnesses, both sides could then make motions for specific individuals and documents. Under the rules resolution, the Senate would vote on the motions.

But Van Hollen's effort would let Roberts issue subpoenas if he thinks a motion is relevant. The Senate, if it disagreed with his decision, could still overrule him with a simple majority.

"A fair trial includes relevant documents and witnesses. And in a fair trial the judge determines what evidence is admitted," Van Hollen said in a statement. "My motion ensures the Chief Justice will serve the same role as a judge in any trial across our country – to allow the Senate access to the facts they need to get to the truth."

The motion, according to text from Van Hollen's office, would require Roberts to issue subpoenas for witnesses or documents requested by either side if he "deems them likely to have probative evidence relevant to either article of impeachment."

Van Hollen would also require Roberts to referee any claims of executive privilege.

more...

https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/480614-dem-senator-to-force-vote-requiring-roberts-to-weigh-in-on-witnesses?fbclid=IwAR1JnDfi1JEY3fjjxunyqRnnPQ04PgJ1HTn3Ao0yQIcg5EWDLZomjNfYCVs

11 replies

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Dem senator to force vote requiring Roberts to weigh in on witnesses (Original Post) babylonsister Jan 2020 OP

I wonder if that could work. captain queeg Jan 2020 #1

Ditto elleng Jan 2020 #2

I Like It DarthDem Jan 2020 #3

The very very litte i have watched and seen/ heard roberts say anything, pangaia Jan 2020 #4

Did'nt make the cut Mopar151 Jan 2020 #5

He'll be ruled out of order FBaggins Jan 2020 #6

Exactly, Moscow Mitch simply won't allow this. Our Senators should know better. groundloop Jan 2020 #8

I think the senator actually does know exactly what he's doing. PandoraAwakened Jan 2020 #11

Roberts wants to play as small a role as possible in this whole thing, and the Senate GrOPers will RockRaven Jan 2020 #7

Which is exactly why such a move needs to be made. PandoraAwakened Jan 2020 #10

Kick Mike 03 Jan 2020 #9

captain queeg

(10,188 posts)

1. I wonder if that could work.

Reply to babylonsister (Original post)

Wed Jan 29, 2020, 10:44 PM

Jan 2020

elleng

(130,895 posts)

2. Ditto

Reply to captain queeg (Reply #1)

Wed Jan 29, 2020, 10:46 PM

Jan 2020

DarthDem

(5,255 posts)

3. I Like It

Reply to babylonsister (Original post)

Wed Jan 29, 2020, 10:59 PM

Jan 2020

Creative. Puts Chief Justice Roberts in a position where has to, well, take a position. It won't work of course due to craven Republicans, but I don't think that's a bad outcome for Democrats and all sensible people. I personally would like as many of these Republicans as possible on the record denying the production of evidence, the chief justice included.

pangaia

(24,324 posts)

4. The very very litte i have watched and seen/ heard roberts say anything,

Reply to babylonsister (Original post)

Thu Jan 30, 2020, 12:00 AM

Jan 2020

He seems like a real light weight in a black robe.

I could be wrong...

Mopar151

(9,983 posts)

5. Did'nt make the cut

Reply to pangaia (Reply #4)

Thu Jan 30, 2020, 12:11 AM

Jan 2020

To be Dread Pirate Roberts!

FBaggins

(26,735 posts)

6. He'll be ruled out of order

Reply to babylonsister (Original post)

Thu Jan 30, 2020, 12:15 AM

Jan 2020

Upon the conclusion of questioning by the Senate, there shall be 4 hours of argument by the parties, equally divided, followed by deliberation by the Senate, if so ordered under the impeachment rules, on the question of whether it shall be in order to consider and debate under the impeachment rules any motion to subpoena witnesses or documents. The Senate, without any intervening action, motion, or amendment, shall then decide by the yeas and nays whether it shall be in order to consider and debate under the impeachment rules any motion to subpoena witnesses or documents.

groundloop

(11,518 posts)

8. Exactly, Moscow Mitch simply won't allow this. Our Senators should know better.

Reply to FBaggins (Reply #6)

Thu Jan 30, 2020, 01:11 AM

Jan 2020

PandoraAwakened

(905 posts)

11. I think the senator actually does know exactly what he's doing.

Reply to groundloop (Reply #8)

Thu Jan 30, 2020, 03:15 PM

Jan 2020

See my comment below.

RockRaven

(14,966 posts)

7. Roberts wants to play as small a role as possible in this whole thing, and the Senate GrOPers will

Reply to babylonsister (Original post)

Thu Jan 30, 2020, 12:59 AM

Jan 2020

do whatever they can to cover his ass in that regard.

Don't expect anything to come from this except to highlight how corrupt/feckless the GOP/GrOPer appointed SCOTUS turds is/are.

PandoraAwakened

(905 posts)

10. Which is exactly why such a move needs to be made.

Reply to RockRaven (Reply #7)

Thu Jan 30, 2020, 03:11 PM

Jan 2020

The senator does not expect his motion to "work" on its face.

But it does work in the sense of tilting public sentiment one step closer to Democrats retaking the Senate in 2020.

Yeah! Put all the Rethug asshats on record opposing witnesses and documents. Do it!

Mike 03

(16,616 posts)

9. Kick

Reply to babylonsister (Original post)

Thu Jan 30, 2020, 06:10 AM

Jan 2020

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