Breaking news that McConnell will not allow a trial before the Inauguration.
www.cnn.com/…
www.axios.com/...
This is important not just for short term risk to our country, but to the odds of having Trump disqualified from ever holding office.
Former judge and arch-conservative Michael Luttig has publicly proclaimed that a conviction after the Inauguration will not allow disqualification (and that a conviction after the Inauguration is not even permitted).
www.washingtonpost.com/…
Why is this important? Luttig is a conservative legal icon who gave Pence the final word he could not throw the election to Trump.
www.nytimes.com/...
Luttig’s argument, btw, is not insane given the language of the impeachment clause. So, with McConnell’s move, if Trump is convicted, his future eligibility will be up to the Supreme Court, with conservatives most likely ready to unleash him on the U.S. once more.
The only other option then for disqualification is under the 14th Amendment, which also will require litigation ultimately decided by the Supreme Court.
This decision is a big deal, and any hope of a definitive end in the next few days just disappeared.
As so many times before, McConnell is ultimately a small man betraying his country.
ADDED NOTE: If McConnell is not going to hold a trial before the Inauguration, there is no reason to send the Impeachment Article to the Senate before then. It would just sit. Given that, probably better for the Speaker to wait and have Schumer run the trial in the majority.