Senate Republicans Complaining Nothing “New” in Impeachment Trial After Blocking New Witnesses and Documents

Senate Republicans are complaining to the press that they haven’t heard “anything new” during President Trump’s impeachment trial, but just days ago they all voted ten times to block subpoenas for witnesses with direct knowledge of the president’s conduct and documents. 

If exercising their constitutional duty as U.S. senators is so boring to these Republicans, why pass up the chance to learn new information from documents or witnesses with first-hand knowledge of Trump’s conduct — especially when polling overwhelmingly shows that a majority of Americans want the Senate to call witnesses that Republicans blocked. 

Take a look at what GOP senators have been saying about the perceived lack of evidence in the trial as they refused to review new evidence:

Senator Susan Collins: News Center Maine: “Anything so far that’s jumped out to you?” Senator Collins: “Not really.”

Senator John Cornyn: “So far, we haven’t heard anything new”

“If [Rep. Adam Schiff’s] got evidence, then we’d be happy to hear the evidence”

“What we ought to be presented is evidence by witnesses that have personal knowledge”

Washington Post: “he dismissed the idea that more evidence would be needed”

Senator David Perdue: “We haven’t seen any evidence yet, but this is clearly an illegitimate process.”

“Personally, I would love to have a vote to dismiss right away because I think that the process in the House is totally illegitimate. But the facts will bear out that this president has not done anything.”

Senator Joni Ernst: “So far, it’s really more of the same”

“There shouldn’t be any reason to bring forth any more documents or witnesses”

AP: “Joni Ernst of Iowa spoke sarcastically about how excited she was to hear the ‘overwhelming evidence’ the House Democrats promised against Trump. ‘And once we’ve heard that overwhelming evidence,’ she added, raising her voice mockingly, ‘I don’t know that we’ll need to see additional witnesses, but let’s hear about that overwhelming evidence.’”

Senator Thom Tillis: “We’ve heard all the evidence that they said was overwhelming and I’m underwhelmed.”

“They don’t have the information. It’s a sham impeachment.”

Senator Cory Gardner: CNN: “Three GOP senators were asked this evening on whether they heard anything today during the impeachment trial that makes them want to vote to bring in witnesses. […] Colorado Sen. Cory Gardner: ‘We’ll continue to have a trial the rest of the week.’”

[CNN] 

[Politico]

[Buzzfeed]

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