The Senate voted 55-45 to end a debate on whether or not President Trump’s impeachment trial was unconstitutional now that he is out of office. Sen. Rand Paul gave a speech arguing whether or not the trial was contrary to the Constitution, forcing senators to vote based on whether they believe it to be constitutional.
After the vote, Sen. Paul said there was “no chance” of impeaching the President in the Senate. Former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows also predicted that the vote on the impeachment article was “dead on arrival” and praised the Republican Senators who voted against it.
House Democrats need at least 67 votes, a two-thirds majority, in order to convict the President. “If 34 people support my resolution that this is an unconstitutional proceeding it shows they don’t have the votes and we’re basically wasting our time,” Sen. Paul told reporters.
The Republican Senator had slammed House Democrats during his speech for their hypocrisy when it came to inciting political violence. President Trump had told his supporters shortly before the U.S Capitol riot to protest “peacefully and patriotically,” while Democrats have called for very specific acts of violence against conservatives. Peacefully and patriotically are hardly words of violence.
Sen. Paul brought up several instances where Democrats’ words were used to incite violence. He talked about the false rhetoric spewed by Bernie Sanders about Republican healthcare plans, which incited a shooter to nearly kill Rep. Steve Scalise while shouting “This is for healthcare!” Sen. Paul mentioned Sen. Cory Booker for telling supporters to get “up in the face” of congresspeople, as well as Maxine Waters for telling her supporters to push back on any member of the Trump Cabinet.
Sen. Paul also pointed out that impeachment is designed for removal of office and when the President of the United States is tried, then the Chief Justice shall preside. Chief Justice John Roberts, who had worked under the Trump Administration, would not preside over the impeachment trial since the accused is no longer president. The Senator argues that there is no constitutional power to impeach a private citizen.
He accused the left of appointing an openly pro-impeachment Democrat to preside over the trial to create even more division between the political parties. 74 million people had voted for Trump’s second term in office, whether the radical left wants to acknowledge that or not. Names on a future ballot are not determined by one political party in power.
“This trial is a sham, a travesty, and a dark blot on the history of our country. I urge my colleagues to reconsider this kangaroo court and move forward to debate the great issues of our day,” Sen. Paul concluded.
If former President Trump is to be held accountable, then the rest should follow as well. Equality and exercising the American right to vote for your candidate of choice is what the Constitution stands for. Period.
