The House votes to accuse President Trump, albeit historically, has created a series of complicated questions for the impending Senate hearing – almost all of which will have consequences for the opening days of incoming President Joe Biden.
This is something that Democratic senators and assistants say they are well aware of because they have worked through possible scenarios – to keep Biden’s team on track every step of the way.
On January 11, Biden himself called the current leader of the majority of the Senate, Mitch McConnell, in an attempt to map out a way forward that would enable his government to begin its work as soon as possible – both nominations as possible stimulus legislation.
The interests are enormous and will determine how quickly Biden gets his team in place, as well as whether he and his new Senate majority can begin the legal effort.
“I hope the Senate leadership will find a way to address their constitutional responsibilities regarding indictment while also working on the other urgent matters of this country,” Biden said in a statement following the indictment, Wednesday night. referring to his desire to ‘expand the process in the upper room.
The ability to reinforce two things at once weighs heavily on what comes next. As McConnell made clear in a January 13 statement, the Senate hearings were historically not short.
“The Senate has held three presidential rape hearings,” McConnell said. “They lasted 83 days, 37 days and 21 days, respectively.”
While the Democrats watched a tighter timeline, no final decisions were announced – either on how the trial will play out, or when one will actually begin.
But previous hearings highlight the complex balance that lawmakers are grappling with. Going through this trial is a guideline, but with the proviso that everyone involved try to work through alternatives.