Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell proposes majority leader Chuck Schumer to postpone the start of former President Trump’s indictment until February, several sources familiar with the plan told CBS News. McConnell confirmed his proposal in a statement later Thursday.
This timeline will include accusations against drivers and the defense of Mr. Trump gives at least a week to prepare. McConnell flew the proposal to GOP senators on a conference call Thursday. McConnell, now in the minority, did not have the final say on when a trial would take place. Schumer will have to agree to the proposal. The House has not yet sent the single accused article for inciting insurrection to the Senate.
Schumer is reviewing the proposal.
“We have received the proposal from Leader McConnell who will only go ahead with motions before the trial this afternoon. We will review it and discuss it with him,” a Schumer spokesman said Thursday.
According to McConnell’s proposed timeline, House Management would read the article to the Senate and senators would be sworn in in court on January 28, a Thursday. From that day on, Mr. Trump would have a week to answer the article and would owe the House provisional mandate, meaning it would be on February 4th. Mr. Trump would then have a week after submitting his answer to his pre-trial order, which means February 11th. The house would have two days later (February 13) to present their rebuttal.
“Senate Republicans are strongly united in the principle that the establishment of the Senate, the office of the presidency and former President Trump himself deserves a complete and just process that respects his rights and the serious factual, legal and constitutional questions at stake, “McConnell said in his statement. “Given the unprecedented speed of the House’s process, our proposed timeline for the initial phases includes a modest and reasonable amount of extra time for both parties to put their arguments together before the Senate would begin hearing it.”
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham praised McConnell’s proposal to postpone the trial until February, saying he met with McConnell on Thursday.
“We looked at historical periods before the trial. The difference is that there was actually no input in the House, it was a quick accusation. But if you look at the periods involved, it looks a lot like we did in the past. did., “Graham told reporters.
Graham confirmed that attorney Butch Bowers joins the Trump legal team as “the anchor tenant.” Graham praised Butcher as a ‘solid man’. The senator in South Carolina said he had no insight into whether Mr. Trump would not attend the trial, but recommended that he not do so.
“The president is looking forward to getting it over with,” Graham said. “Believes it’s unconstitutional and damages his presidency, but you know, he’s going to have a day in court and that’s how the system works.”
The House has Mr. Trump was indicted on January 13 last week with ten Republicans joining the Democrats.
Senators are currently planning to work from their states for President’s Day during the week of February 15, which will likely complicate the timeline.
Currently, the Senate is also working to confirm the nominees of President Joe Biden. Democratic Senator Chris Coons told CNN on Thursday that Democrats could be open to a slight delay in the trial if there is progress in confirming nominees.
‘I think the Democrats will be open to considering a delay that gives former President Trump time to put together his legal team and his defense for the indictment if we make progress in confirming the very talented, experienced and diverse team nominating President Joe Biden to serve in his cabinet, ”Coons said.
McConnell did not say publicly whether he supported or opposed the accusation, although he did say that the mob that attacked the Capitol had been “provoked by the president”.