Trump Impeachment Trial: GOP Ignores Trump's Advice On Strategy, Won't Accept 'Outside Influences'

Republican senators rebuffed president Donald Trump's demands for an impeachment show trial where he could embarrass former vice president Joe Biden by refusing to acceed to his insistence witnesses be called and new testimony introduced.

They're determined to put a quick end to Trump's impeachment trial, perhaps as soon as early February, a strategy that allows no room for witnesses and the eventuality some GOP senators might side with Democrats.

Analysts said the organizing resolution drawn-up by House majority leader Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-KY, ensures the speedy and one-sided trial Republican senators are bent on having. The resolution gives Democrat impeachment managers and Trump's lawyers only 24 hours each over three days to make their case. McConnell also altered the rules for admitting the House evidence into the record.

At the end of these arguments, senators are given 16 hours to ask questions. There will also be two hours of arguments each by the House impeachment managers and Trump's lawyers. As expected, Trump’s legal team emphatically supported McConnell’s organizing resolution that will eventually result in a far faster trial.

Despite these moves, Trump keeps calling for witnesses to testify and for new testimony to be introduced. At Davos, Switzerland on Wednesday, Trump talked about going the “long way” during his trial. He said he sees testimony from “a lot of people,” including former national security adviser John Bolton, secretary of state Mike Pompeo and former snergy secretary Rick Perry. Senate Republicans are having none of this, however.

“Certainly, the president has those in the Senate who are very interested in his views,” said Sen. Jerry Moran, R-KS. “Those are decisions to more likely be made by senators themselves, and individually and collectively, than outside influences.”

GOP senators are also concerned Trump might really live-up to a statement he again made Wednesday about his wanting to testify at his own trial. This option was made in November 2019 by House majority speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-CA, who suggested Trump should testify in the House probe. Surprisingly, Trump later said he might do it because he liked the idea and “did nothing wrong.”

“There’s obviously a frustration on (Trump’s) part that makes him just want to get everything out in the open,” said Sen. Roger Wicker, R-MS. “But we have an obligation to conduct the trial in the way that in our judgment is most appropriate. And that’s reflected in the organizing resolution.”

Most of the American people do want Trump to testify. A Monmouth University Poll conducted from January 16 to 20 found three in four Americans saying Trump should be invited to testify at the Senate impeachment trial. In addition, 40 percent of respondents say Trump must be compelled to testify.

Sen. Ron Johnson, R-WS, understands Trump’s remarks about having witnesses and new testimony go against the Senate GOP strategy. “I understand the president’s desire to get all this information out in the public, but at the same time we have to look at what’s best for the country.”