House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is sitting on the documents required to impeach President Donald Trump until 2020. In an unprecedented move, Pelosi is refusing to send over the articles until next year.
The House Democrats voted to approve 2 articles of impeachment against Trump on Wednesday night. The 2 articles accuse Trump of abuse of power and obstruction of justice.
But Trump is not officially impeached until Pelosi transmits the articles to the Senate – which she has refused to do.
The articles of impeachment are typically transmitted electronically immediately after the vote to impeach. If Pelosi doesn’t send over the articles, it would mean Trump is not officially impeached.
The Democrats have a lot to lose if Pelosi sends over the articles, and Trump gets the long Senate trial that he wants.
A long Senate trial would give Trump the opportunity to call witnesses to testify under oath.
Trump’s list would include presidential candidate Joe Biden, disgraced ex-FBI agent James Comey, and former secretary of state Hillary Clinton.
Republicans were quick to respond with laughter and ridicule on Thursday. They accused Pelosi of obstructing justice herself by not handing over the articles.
GOP members say Pelosi is holding onto the articles because she knows she has a “weak case” against Trump, and she is concerned that Trump will have the upper hand.
She has said she will not turn over the articles until she knows McConnell will proceed with a “fair” trial.
“It’s beyond me how [Pelosi] and [Hoyer] think withholding the articles of impeachment and not sending them over gives them leverage,” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told reporters on Thursday.
McConnell has the only say on whether Trump gets a trial in the Senate. He has previously indicated that he will acquit Trump without a trial and without calling any witnesses.
