Top lawmakers on Friday disclosed that the former President of the United States of America, Donald Trump will appear before the Senate after his impeachment case is transmitted by the House of Representatives.
Recall that the house impeached Trump for the second time on January 13, a week before handing over.
“I have spoken to Speaker Pelosi who informed me that the article will be delivered to the Senate on Monday,” Chuck Schumer, the new Democratic Senate majority leader, said in a floor speech Friday.
“A trial will be held in the United States Senate and there will be a vote whether to convict the president,” Schumer told his colleagues.
Trump was impeached by the house for inciting his supporters during a speech in Washington on January 6, which led to an attack on congress.
The Senate’s top Republican, Mitch McConnell, severely reprimanded the outgoing president and left the door open for voting to convict Trump.
He, however, has sought a delay in an impeachment trial until February, arguing Trump needs time to hire lawyers and mount a defence.
McConnell who is now the Senate minority leader, on Friday, acknowledged the Democrats’ timetable.
“As I understand, it must be headed our way Monday. By Senate rules, if the article arrives, we have to start a trial right then,” he said on the floor.
McConnell spoke of the “unprecedentedly fast” process in the House, where Trump was impeached in a single day.
“The sequel cannot be an insufficient Senate process that denies former president Trump his due process or damages the Senate or the presidency itself,” he said.
He also said that delaying the trial would have provided time for the Senate to confirm members of new President Joe Biden’s cabinet, and consider crucial legislation like a coronavirus pandemic rescue package.