President Joe Biden will likely not be following the Senate’s impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump too closely, according to the White House press secretary.
During a press briefing on Monday, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki was asked if Biden would spend any time watching the trial and if he would prefer a quick trial or prolonged proceeding that features witnesses and “full airing of the violence at the Capitol and Trump’s role in inciting it.”
“The president himself would tell you that we keep him pretty busy, and he has a full schedule this week, which we will continue to keep you abreast of,” Psaki responded.
She noted that Biden is scheduled to visit the National Institutes of Health and the Department of Defense and meet with governors, mayors, and business leaders.
“I think it’s clear from his schedule and from his intention he will not spend too much time watching the proceedings,” she added.
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"He will leave the pace and the process and the mechanics of the impeachment proceedings up to members of Congress," press sec. Psaki says about Pres. Biden ahead of the upcoming Senate impeachment trial for former Pres. Trump. https://t.co/SW0KNO9Pcg pic.twitter.com/psLD2QMKpt
— ABC News Live (@ABCNewsLive) February 8, 2021
However, she said Biden would be in contact with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) about his proposed COVID-19 relief package.
Addressing whether Biden would prefer a quick trial, Psaki said, “He will leave the pace and the process and the mechanics of the impeachment proceedings up to members of Congress.”
Trump was impeached by the House of Representatives for the second time on Jan. 13 on the charge that he incited an insurrection against the U.S. government, as IJR reported.
Even before Biden was sworn in, Psaki said his plan was to leave the mechanics of the impeachment trial to the Senate and that he planned to focus on getting his $1.9 trillion relief package passed.
“He will, of course, be very engaged with Democrats and Republicans, with the Senate with the House, on a range of activities and a range of initiatives they have moving forward,” she said, adding, “But his focus is going to be on bringing relief to the American people. That’s what he thinks he was elected to do.”
