2/13 News Roundup & Open Thread (update)
‘A Complete Capitulation’: Outrage as Democrats Abruptly Back Off Push for Witnesses in Trump Trial
Shortly after the Senate voted to pave the way for witnesses in Donald Trump’s impeachment trial, Democratic lawmakers and the former president’s defense team reached a deal to merely enter a statement by Republican Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler into evidence instead of having her testify under oath on her knowledge of a call between Trump and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy.
The agreement effectively slammed the door on the possibility of witnesses in the trial, potentially clearing a path for a final vote on the impeachment charge on Saturday. After the deal was announced on the Senate floor, Democratic managers moved into closing arguments.
The abrupt change of course by Democrats was met with outrage by progressive observers and analysts who viewed Herrera Beutler’s potential testimony—and that of others who may have been compelled to come forward—as an opportunity to uncover additional information about Trump’s conduct on the day of the deadly attack on the U.S. Capitol last month.
“Even if you’re convinced no testimony will change the minds of 40 Republicans—and I think that’s a fair assumption—leaving witnesses on the table is an incredible mistake,” tweeted HuffPost’s Matt Fuller. “After impeachment managers presented a fantastic case, the decision to fold is what will be remembered.”
In the statement that was entered into the record, Herrera Beutler—one of the 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump last month—said that “when McCarthy finally reached the president on January 6 and asked him to publicly and forcefully call off the riot, the president initially repeated the falsehood that it was antifa that had breached the Capitol.”
“McCarthy refuted that and told the president that these were Trump supporters,” Herrera Beutler said. “That’s when, according to McCarthy, the president said, ‘Well, Kevin, I guess these people are more upset about the election than you are.'”
Judd Legum of Popular Information argued that because Herrera Beutler’s statement had already been released to the public, the agreement to enter it into evidence is “objectively the same as a complete capitulation on witnesses and the Democrats should just own up to that.”
“This is retreat. White flag. Malpractice. Completely unstrategic,” added Adam Green, co-founder of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee (PCCC). “They just closed the door on others who may have stepped out, as Herrera Beutler urged last night. Just when we thought Dems were being bold and strategic. This is grabbing lameness out of the jaws of boldness.”
Watching the R's throw sand in the gears of the D's closing arguments gives me great optimism that they want to work with President Biden on all those agenda items that calling witnesses would have delayed.
— Charles P. Pierce (@CharlesPPierce) February 13, 2021
More news, tweets, videos, etc in comments section.
Tip Jar for Benny
Democracy Now’s Amy Goodman has been employing Burma’s original nomenclature again as Myanmar was the name the military government renamed it.
let’s hope it stays this way. as she says, good job!
https://tharunka.arc.unsw.edu.au/jacinda-ardern-isnt-who-you-think-she-is/
yeah. but good job w/ the pandemic.
So Benny! What do you think of this turn of events? About the vote to allow witnesses?
In the privacy of my living room, I jokingly imitated Trump lawyer van de Veen’s pronounciation of the word Philadelphia, but I must admit that I was surprised to hear the laughter.
Trump defense counsel: “Do not handcuff me!”
Senate has to agree to any witness. So if all Dems vote against, any suggested witness would lose 50/50 even without any Republican votes
Right now the only sure witness appears to be Herrera-Buetler
Thank you jcitybone!
I thought of you and Benny through that whole vote. I wondered if you might have let out a groan?
Looks like the Dems caved.
Caved to public pressure? I honestly haven’t been able to keep up.
update: am catching up on your posts and do you mean to say that Democrats had only a certain amount of time to actually call witnesses, and then they didn’t call any?
They voted to get witnesses, then decided they didn’t want this to drag on.
omg smdh
Groan is mild for what transpired
Premature Exhilaration?!?
Is it possible?
Can it be?
The Democrats are transforming into a Fighting Force?!?
If you’re just waking up and tuning in:
Here is the Timeline as I understand it.
The info spread that Mitch McConnell was going to vote to acquit. Trial over.
Next, The Senate came to order at 10:00 and completed their final remarks by 12:00. The next step was supposed to be a vote—to Convict or Acquit.
Instead, Jamie Raskin asked for the Senate to allow witnesses.
The Gop objected.
A vote was taken.
And, just like that—-the Trial goes on.
I don’t think this will change the Outcome. But the fact that the Democrats are willing, eager to extend this trial, even as their President Joe Biden, wants it to end, is astonishing.
They got 5 GOP members, including Lindsay Graham! agree with the Dems to vote. The Vote was 55 for witnesses and 45 against.
Is this evidence of spinal structure, or stupidity?
Only time will tell.
I heard a lot of viewpoints on MSM afterwards, but there was one common thread, no one knows how this will end.
I guess now we know. That didn’t take long.
Oh well. You know me by now.
Always looking for the tiniest ray of sunshine.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9255771/Cuomo-looks-sheepish-Oval-Republicans-Democrats-join-calls-resign.html
The title says it all.
Hard Times for the Bully who rules and ruins New York.
This photo from your article, taken in yesterday’s WH meeting with Biden, is interesting.
Call the witnesses. Niño & Ruby will hear them whenever the Senate is willing. Technically the senate is not in session next week, so the trial could go on. GOP’s whining about not being able to bring COVID relief blah blah blah when the truth is they had planes to catch.
Be still my heart, they are so gorgeous!
Niño looks a bit askance.
That is a terrific pic. Amen, mags x 100! 😊
I’ve looked at it three times so far, lol.
Forget Jill Biden’s cardboard hearts, put pics of those two lovable creatures, along with so many of the other great animal companion pics I’ve seen here, up on billboards for all to see. That would make a lot of people smile.
Yes, was watching a bit of FOX, was surprisingly ok overall actually (the gravelly-voiced host), but as soon as I heard a Republican expressing concern that this will imperil the Covid bill I had to call bs.
T and R, Ms. Benny!! ☮️😊👍 Thanks for hosting the Nest the last few days. 👏👏
Now in the GOP closing statements, they will claim the Dems have no witnesses. Just like McConnell kept the trial from moving forward until after Trump left office, then says it’s unconstitutional.
Oh well. Wrong again.
I guess I should be used to being disappointed if I retain the slightest bit of optimism.
But I think it is way too late to change decades of optimism for me.