Ted Cruz Pitches ‘Witness Reciprocity’ for Impeachment Trial

[libertybele]

Ted Cruz Pitches ‘Witness Reciprocity’ for Impeachment Trial

Senator Ted Cruz (R., Texas) on Tuesday pitched the idea of “witness reciprocity” for the Senate impeachment trial during a meeting with Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.) and other top Senate Republicans.

The idea would allow Republicans and Democrats to summon an equal number of witnesses to testify. For example, if the Democrats subpoena testimony from former national security adviser John Bolton, Republicans would be allowed to summon Hunter Biden in return.

“We’ll be dealing with the witness issue at the appropriate time into the trial. And I think it’s certainly appropriate to point out that both sides would want to call witnesses if they wanted to hear from them,” McConnell commented to reporters. “So if you get to that issue, I can’t imagine that only the witnesses our Democratic colleagues want to call will be called.”

McConnell originally sought to dismiss the articles of impeachment without calling witnesses, angering Democrats who wanted to hear from Bolton before the Senate vote on impeachment. However, several Republican Senators have objected to the notion of dismissing charges before hearing from witnesses............

https://www.nationalreview.com/news/ted-cruz-pitches-witness-reciprocity-for-impeachment-trial/

[Hoodat]

It is my understanding that the current standard allows a side to call two witnesses to rebut one.  That works for me.  Witnesses are to Trump's advantage here, which is why the House Judiciary Committee failed to call any.  At a minimum, put Ciaramella, Schiff, and Yovanovitch under oath and grill them until they cry.

The Dems have nothing, and they know it.  And they also know that Bolton won't help.  And once the primaries get here, and Biden falls off the map, they won't even be able to make the case that he is a political opponent of Trump.

[catfish1957]

Cruz and everyone else knows that the big fish on the stand will be the Bidens.  GOP has great chance deep 6 the dim frontrunner if they play their cards right.

[Chosen Daughter]

Sounds great to me.

[verga]

It is my understanding that the current standard allows a side to call two witnesses to rebut one.  That works for me.  Witnesses are to Trump's advantage here, which is why the House Judiciary Committee failed to call any.  At a minimum, put Ciaramella, Schiff, and Yovanovitch under oath and grill them until they cry.

Grill them until they cry. How much can they answer in 15 seconds?

[Millee]

Somehow the left will claim that that's unfair.   

[Cyber Liberty]

My understanding on this is the Rat's opening position in this negotiation is they get at least three witnesses, and Trump gets zero witnesses.  They are trying to run the Senate Trial in the same manner as they did the Impeachment Articles in the House, after promising Trump will get his chance to defend himself at trial and not before.

Even Rand Paul is aghast.

[sneakypete]

It is my understanding that the current standard allows a side to call two witnesses to rebut one.  That works for me.  Witnesses are to Trump's advantage here, which is why the House Judiciary Committee failed to call any.  At a minimum, put Ciaramella, Schiff, and Yovanovitch under oath and grill them until they cry.

@Hoodat

Maybe beat them up a little,too?

[skeeter]

The defense needs to be able to call House Manager Adam Schiff.

[Hoodat]

[The Dems] are trying to run the Senate Trial in the same manner as they did the Impeachment Articles in the House, after promising Trump will get his chance to defend himself at trial and not before.

This is what is know as 'abuse of power' and 'obstruction of Congress'.

[Cyber Liberty]

This is what is know as 'abuse of power' and 'obstruction of Congress'.

Ayup!  Apparently the Rats see no downside, while I see them just digging a deeper hole for themselves.

[XenaLee]

My understanding on this is the Rat's opening position in this negotiation is they get at least three witnesses, and Trump gets zero witnesses.  They are trying to run the Senate Trial in the same manner as they did the Impeachment Articles in the House, after promising Trump will get his chance to defend himself at trial and not before.

Even Rand Paul is aghast.

The only question is.... will Mitch (da bitch?) allow the rats to run the Senate as they did the House.   Mitch has talked a good game... but we all know how much tough talk is worth, ultimately.   Personally.... I don't trust Mitch as far as I can throw him (or the Rinos).  I fear a setup/ambush is forthcoming.

[Cyber Liberty]

The only question is.... will Mitch (da bitch?) allow the rats to run the Senate as they did the House.   Mitch has talked a good game... but we all know how much tough talk is worth, ultimately.   Personally.... I don't trust Mitch as far as I can throw him (or the Rinos).  I fear a setup/ambush is forthcoming.

I think Cocaine Mitch knows he's holding all the cards on this, and won't budge.  He hasn't yet, and it's paid off.

[libertybele]

The only question is.... will Mitch (da bitch?) allow the rats to run the Senate as they did the House.   Mitch has talked a good game... but we all know how much tough talk is worth, ultimately.   Personally.... I don't trust Mitch as far as I can throw him (or the Rinos).  I fear a setup/ambush is forthcoming.

Agreed.  Mitch cannot be trusted ... and with Roberts residing, what could possibly go wrong?

[XenaLee]

I think Cocaine Mitch knows he's holding all the cards on this, and won't budge.  He hasn't yet, and it's paid off.

Well.... I guess we will see starting on next Tuesday.   Call me a paranoid cynic.... but I have come to trust none of the DC critters to do what they're supposed to do vs. what the deep state wants done.   

[libertybele]

Well.... I guess we will see starting on next Tuesday.   Call me a paranoid cynic.... but I have come to trust none of the DC critters to do what they're supposed to do vs. what the deep state wants done.   

Well, in that case, that makes me one as well.  Nope, don't trust them in the least - and their past track records speak for themselves.

[XenaLee]

Agreed.  Mitch cannot be trusted ... and with Roberts residing, what could possibly go wrong?

Roberts, the already known compromised "Justice", will be presiding over THE most crucial attempted coup in the history of the nation.   

Swell.   

[skeeter]

Agreed.  Mitch cannot be trusted ... and with Roberts residing, what could possibly go wrong?

The entire base is watching very closely, expecting exactly what you are worried about.

I think Mitch knows this.

[XenaLee]

Well, in that case, that makes me one as well.  Nope, don't trust them in the least - and their past track records speak for themselves.

Yep.

And... did you see this article on TOS?   I find it very telling re: the "why" Pelosi and Schiff are so hell-bent on destroying Trump....the one that wanted the corruption in Ukraine investigated....

https://conservativeus.com/as-president-pelosi-is-trending-on-the-internet-new-photos-emerge-that-connects-schiff-pelosi-to-a-top-ukrainian-arms-dealer/

[Maj. Bill Martin]

I think Cocaine Mitch knows he's holding all the cards on this, and won't budge.  He hasn't yet, and it's paid off.

He's only holding those cards if the entire caucus backs him.  If he has more than a few defections, then it's Schumer holding the cards.

[Cyber Liberty]

Well.... I guess we will see starting on next Tuesday.   Call me a paranoid cynic.... but I have come to trust none of the DC critters to do what they're supposed to do vs. what the deep state wants done.   

I don't think you can go wrong by distrusting every thing politicians do or say.  That said, there's no downside to Turtle digging in his heels against the Rats on this.  They have gone wayyyyy beyond merely overplaying their hand.

[Cyber Liberty]

He's only holding those cards if the entire caucus backs him.  If he has more than a few defections, then it's Schumer holding the cards.

At the moment, even Rand Paul thinks the Rats are being ridiculous.  I do agree, though, that he can only hold on as long as the Caucus stays in line.  This is always true, nothing new.

[Maj. Bill Martin]

At the moment, even Rand Paul thinks the Rats are being ridiculous.  I do agree, though, that he can only hold on as long as the Caucus stays in line.  This is always true, nothing new.

Rand Paul isn't really an "even" on impeachment.  He's been one of the strongest critics of impeachment even though he disagrees with the President on other issues.

The problem children are going to be Collins, Murkowski, Romney, and maybe Portman.

[XenaLee]

He's only holding those cards if the entire caucus backs him.  If he has more than a few defections, then it's Schumer holding the cards.

And we already know of at least four that will probably go "Maverick" on him.   Collins, Muskowski, Lee and Romney.

[Cyber Liberty]

And we already know of at least four that will probably go "Maverick" on him.   Collins, Muskowski, Lee and Romney.

It depends on how badly they perceive Rats as over-reaching.  Even Collins choked on what the Rats were selling in the Kavanaugh fiasco.