Majority Leader Schumer Floor Remarks On Senate Republicans’ Deeply Irresponsible Failed Attempt To Prevent The Impeachment Trial Of Former President Trump

Washington, D.C. –  Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) today spoke on the Senate floor after 45 Senate Republicans voted against a motion to table Senator Paul’s point of order against the impeachment trial of Former President Donald Trump. Senator Schumer reiterated that there will be a trial and Senators will cast judgment as the Constitution demands. Below are Senator Schumer’s remarks, which can also be viewed here:

Finally, I want to address the vote the Senate took yesterday on the point of order raised by the junior Senator from Kentucky. I regret to say: for 45 Republican Senators to vote for a spurious constitutional objection to the coming impeachment trial was deeply, deeply, irresponsible.

The trial is still two weeks away. The constitutional objection has been completely debunked by more than 150 constitutional scholars representing the entire breadth of the political spectrum, including very prominent conservatives.

But only five Republican Senators were willing to take a principled stand against this reckless and ill-advised effort by members of this body who are eager to excuse President Trump’s campaign to overturn the election, and, apparently, to excuse his incitement of the mob that every one of us experienced in this Capitol.

I would simply say to all of my colleagues: make no mistake – there will be a trial, and the evidence against the former President will be presented, in living color, for the nation and every one of us to see.

Once again, no one will be able to avert their gaze from what Mr. Trump said and did, and the consequences of his actions. We will all watch what happened, we will listen to what happened, and then, we will vote. We will pass judgment, as our solemn duty under the Constitution demands. And in turn, we will all be judged on how we respond.

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