The biggest controversy, outside of when Pelosi delivers the papers, is will witnesses be called. Besides the fact that no witnesses were called in the Clinton Senate proceedings, there is another reason for not doing so that I have not heard anyone mention.
The Constitution, as I understand it, says that the House is the one who brings the charges. The Senate is the “jury” that hears the case and makes a decision. Despite the fact that the term, “trial” is bandied about with abandon, this procedure is not like a civil trial. The “trial” has already occurred in the House, and the proceedings are presented to the jury.
A civil trial does not send witnesses to the jury deliberations. All that the jury is allowed or even supposed to use it the transcripts of the actual trial. The same is true of the Senate proceedings. The House developed the “case” and presents it to the “jury.” All of the testimony has been entered for the jurors to consider and will be presented by the House handlers.
If, as they seem to imply by requesting/demanding witnesses, they failed in their burden of proof, they should be censured for incompetence. The hue and cry was, “This is so urgent that we cannot wait to get it done.” But “done” is like baking a cake with half the ingredients. Instead of being fast, they were “half-fast.” Or as the Senate leader McConnell described their investigation, “slapdash.”
Let the Senate deliberate and render its verdict.
