A Very Twitter Afternoon

Trump's lawyer claimed the House isn't ready to present our case.

We’re ready.

The House calls John Bolton to testify. The House calls Mick Mulvaney.

We’re ready to present our case, ready to call witnesses, ready to see the documents.

The question: Will the Senate let us? pic.twitter.com/MD5d1bqsxU

— Adam Schiff (@RepAdamSchiff) January 21, 2020

I got to hear this on the car radio as I drove around town this afternoon. I heard the argument from White House counsel (Sekulow? Cippolone? I missed who was talking.) that Schiff was responding to here. It was delightful to hear him say these words on the Senate floor. I missed this, however:

SCHIFF: "When you hear them attack the House managers, what you're really hearing is 'we don't want to talk about POTUS's guilt ... so we'll attack the House managers b/c maybe we can distract you for a moment' ... why don't they have a better argument to make on the merits?" pic.twitter.com/W8CgaHCgXO

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) January 21, 2020

I did hear Cippolone's lie about the "secret hearings" in the basement of the Capitol, which Schiff(?) pointed out were so secret 100 members of Congress were present and got to ask questions. He then invited the Senate to consider what would have happened if 100 members of Congress had wanted to attend the grand jury hearings in the investigation of then-President Clinton. I know some Senators were worried about people like Gym Jordan making a circus of the Senate trial. I think their fears were misplaced.

Sekulow coming off angry, loud breathless.

I’m paying attention & I can’t glean the point from all the huffs & puffs.

— wheatus (@wheatus) January 21, 2020

SCHIFF: "This is about getting to the truth & making sure impartial justice is done... we are ready...let's get this trial started, shall we? We are ready to present our case. We are ready to call our witnesses. The Q is, will you let us?" (Republicans then voted to not let them) pic.twitter.com/QGJp0XPzFI

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) January 21, 2020

Yeah, no surprise there. However, 12 hour days have been removed from the rules, and McConnell may yet allow evidence and witnesses. I know they are hearing arguments on several motions regarding evidence by Schumer right now, and the argument against these motions is that the Senate should hear arguments first and evidence maybe never. I don't think we're going to reach "maybe never," but we'll see.

That’s good lawyering. When a good lawyer is in front of a judge early in a case on a procedural matter, she or he will use that opportunity—if the judge allows it—to explain what the case is about. First impressions matter, and they can affect procedural rulings. https://t.co/b3H0BiRdf3

— George Conway (@gtconway3d) January 21, 2020

Not that it made any difference:

Retweet if the lockstep 53-47 vote to conduct a coverup instead of a trial made you gag as it did me.

— Laurence Tribe (@tribelaw) January 21, 2020

Still, we'll always have Paris:

YOUVE BEEN IMPEACHED https://t.co/i1g8dN205J

— Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) January 21, 2020

Take your pleasures where you can.

GOP Senators may vote to acquit, but there is something truly cleansing to the national conscience to see Adam Schiff walk into their chamber and shove a full dose of truth down their throats before they do.

— David Jolly (@DavidJollyFL) January 21, 2020