Democrats looking to speed through Senate impeachment trial
By Alexander Bolton - 01/15/21 06:00 AM EST
Senate Democrats hope to conduct President Trump’s impeachment trial as swiftly as possible to avoid slowing the start of President-elect Joe Biden’s new administration, but Republicans have yet to show they will cooperate.
Senate Democrats are discussing the possibility of holding regular business on the floor before the chamber convenes the impeachment trial at noon or 1 p.m. each day, which would give them a chance to consider essential business such as a service waiver for Lloyd Austin, Biden’s choice to head the Defense Department, before the end of the trial.
Democrats want to move ahead with Biden’s agenda during the trial, which could last days. Failing that, there’s discussion about “working around the clock,†according to one Democratic aide, to complete the trial in a matter of days.
Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) told MSNBC in an interview Thursday that the Senate could do so if needed to conduct a trial and legislate, echoing what Senate Democratic Leader Charles Schumer (N.Y.) has said.
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) said Thursday that Democrats don’t see the need to spend a lot of time on Trump’s impeachment trial once he leaves office.
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https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/534339-democrats-looking-to-speed-through-senate-impeachment-trial