Leader of the majority of the Senate Mitch McConnell
Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellHouse passes measure calling on Pence to remove Trump Trump, House GOP relationship suddenly deteriorates Kinzinger says he will vote to impeach Trump MOREThe (R-Ky.) office told the Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer
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A senior Republican Senate aide confirmed that McConnell’s office was contacting Schumer’s office to convey the message that the Republicans will not agree to a Friday session to allow House Democrats to pass an article of impeachment to the Senate. present while Trump is in office.
McConnell said in a memo to colleagues last week that the Senate cannot settle matters on the floor until senators return to Washington on Jan. 19, unless all 100 senators agree to reconvene earlier.
The memo stated that unless there is unanimous consent from senators, the Trump impeachment process would not begin until 1 p.m. on January 20. Joe Biden
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“It would require the consent of all 100 senators to do whatever business during the scheduled pro forma sessions before January 19,” the memo said.
“The Senate trial would therefore begin after President Trump’s term of office expires – either one hour after it expires on January 20 or twenty-five hours after it expires on January 21,” it said.
Schumer disputed that claim on Tuesday, saying he and McConnell could agree to reconvene the Senate at an emergency session in the coming days.
He says the legislation passed in 2004 allows the majority of the Senate and minority leaders to reconvene the Senate at any time to respond to emergencies.
“Legislation was passed in 2004 enabling the minority and majority leader in the Senate to jointly convene the Senate in times of need. This is a time of need, ”said Schumer.
“I’ve asked him to call the Senate back – all he needs is my consent, I’m still a minority leader,” he said.