Fidget spinners, no socks and lots of milk: What you missed this week in impeachment
The first week of President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial is almost over as House managers wrap up their case. The week came with plenty of standout moments as senators found unusual ways to keep busy and one Democrat received rare Republican praise for his presentation.
Why was Trump impeached?
Trump is facing two impeachment articles: abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.
He is accused of withholding millions of dollars in military aid to Ukraine in exchange for the country announcing that it was investigating former Vice President Joe Biden’s son Hunter Biden, who worked on the board of a Ukrainian energy company.
Trump is also accused of refusing to allow his staff to testify at House impeachment hearings over the Ukraine aid last year.
Senators will vote at the end of the impeachment trial over whether Trump should be convicted and removed from office. His removal requires a two-thirds majority vote, or 67 votes out of the 100-seat Senate.
What happened this week?
The trial opened Tuesday with senators voting on the rules of the proceedings. Democrats were pushing to include more witnesses and evidence, but that effort failed on votes along party lines.
House impeachment managers, who act like prosecutors, took Wednesday and Thursday to lay out their case. They showed videos from the House impeachment hearings, clips of Trump speaking to reporters and presented slideshows of their arguments.
Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff, who is the lead impeachment manager, has gotten much praise on Twitter for his presentations. He also received a handshake from Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, who told Schiff he was “very well-spoken.”
Both House impeachment managers and the White House counsel got a scolding from Chief Justice John Roberts early Wednesday. Roberts spoke up after a tense exchange between Rep. Jerry Nadler and White House Counsel Pat Cipollone.
“Those addressing the Senate should remember where they are,” Roberts said, according to Politico.
Milk, fidget spinners and other observations
Despite the trial lasting into the early-morning hours, Senators are only allowed to drink water and milk. The milk rule dates to a 1966 request by former Sen. Everett Dirksen, according to NPR. Still, if senators want it they have to bring their own.
Lawmakers spotted with a glass of the dairy beverage include Republican Sens. Tom Cotton and Richard Burr and Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren.
Senators have taken various ways to keep occupied during the trial. Republican Sen. Marsha Blackburn said on Twitter she was reading “Resistance (At All Costs),” and multiple reporters noted Sen. Rand Paul working on a crossword puzzle.
Burr brought fidget spinners to the trial, and he passed out extras to his Republican colleagues.
Burr also stood out for his unusual choice in footwear, particularly the choice to go sockless. The North Carolina senator often goes out without socks, and has said in the past that “it’s a Southern thing.”
George Washington University Law professor Jonathan Turley told McClatchy News that the House managers overall have done a good job in laying out their case.
“They have incorporated documents and visual exhibits well,” he said. “They have tailored their arguments to the peak coverage times.”
University of North Carolina law school professor Michael Gerhardt agreed, telling McClatchy News that the House managers are doing an “excellent job” in showing the evidence. But he said some things are not working as well.
“The occasional flippancy from both Schiff and Nadler are not as effective,” Gerhardt said. “They, like the other managers, are no doubt getting tired at times, but they will win no friends over to their arguments by engaging sometimes in hyperbole or satire.”
House managers will wrap up their case Friday, then Trump’s defense team will have three days to present starting Saturday.
