A Republican senator said Thursday that he would introduce a measure as soon as Monday that would dismiss the articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump.
Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) said the Democrats’ decision to withhold the articles from the Senate is an “unprecedented attempt to obstruct a Senate trial” and an admission that they don’t have enough evidence to proceed against the president.
“In real world, if prosecution doesn’t proceed with case, it gets dismissed,” Hawley tweeted. “So on Monday, I will introduce [a] measure to dismiss this bogus impeachment for lack of prosecution.”
Dems said impeachment was URGENT. Now they don’t want to have a trial, because they have no evidence. In real world, if prosecution doesn’t proceed with case, it gets dismissed. So on Monday, I will introduce measure to dismiss this bogus impeachment for lack of prosecution
— Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) January 2, 2020
My proposal will take form of motion to update Senate impeachment rules to account for this unprecedented attempt to obstruct Senate trial. Stay tuned
— Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) January 2, 2020
Hawley and other Republicans have criticized House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) for refusing to send the articles of impeachment to the Senate until Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) outlines how the trial will proceed.
Democrats want to call witnesses during the next phase of the impeachment, but Republicans have so far resisted — though McConnell has said he has not ruled out hearing witnesses.
https://twitter.com/GovHowardDean/status/1212892779640213504
McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) are both scheduled to deliver floor speeches Friday addressing the impeachment trial.