The Hill By Jordain Carney - 01/29/20
After six days of opening statements from House managers and President Trump's team, senators will start asking questions of both sides at 1 p.m. on Wednesday.
The question-and-answer session is expected to be stretched over two days, with senators getting a total of 16 hours to ask questions, before moving to a vote on Friday on whether or not to call witnesses.
Under a deal announced by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), questions will alternate between Republicans and Democrats. Wednesday's session is expected to last eight hours, not including breaks.
McConnell also doled out advice to both senators asking their questions as well as to House managers and Trump's team for how to answer them: Get to the point.
"During the question period of the Clinton trial, senators were thoughtful and brief with their questions, and the managers and counsel were succinct in their answers. I hope we can follow both of these examples during this time," McConnell said Tuesday.
Senators aren't allowed to speak during the trial. Instead, they are submitting their questions in writing. The questions will first be fielded through leadership on both sides, who have said their main object is to weed out duplicates or repetitive questions.
The questions will then be passed, alternating between parties, to Chief Justice John Roberts, who is presiding over the trial.
Roberts will read out the question, which side it is addressed to and which senators submitted it. When duplicative questions are merged, Roberts is expected to read out the name of each senator who originally submitted the questions.
"Questions can be directed to House managers or the President’s counsel. Senators can’t ask each other questions," a GOP aide added, outlining how the proceeding will go.
More:
https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/480422-what-to-watch-for-on-day-8-of-the-trump-impeachment-trial
