Senate Democratic Leader Charles SchumerCharles (Chuck) Ellis SchumerPelosi says it was ‘sad’ to see McConnell ‘humiliate’ Chief Justice Roberts while presiding over witness voteBehind the scenes of McConnell’s impeachment dramaFox’s Chris Wallace: ‘Every side is going to come out a winner’ on impeachmentMORE (N.Y.) on Friday ratcheted up pressure on Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts to break a possible tie vote on a motion to consider subpoenas of additional witnesses and documents, which could extend President TrumpDonald John TrumpCoronavirus death toll rises to 304 in ChinaMichael Moore: Clinton comments about Sanders ‘divisive,’ ‘cruel’ and ‘a lie’Palestinian Authority cuts security ties with US, Israel following Trump peace plan announcementMOREs impeachment trial for weeks.
Schumer to this point has focused on putting pressure on four moderate Senate Republicans to break ranks and vote for subpoenaing former national security adviser John BoltonJohn BoltonWarriors coach Steve Kerr knocks senators for voting against new witnesses at trial Behind the scenes of McConnell’s impeachment dramaHow the House lost the witness battle along with impeachmentMORE, among others. But with Sen. Lamar AlexanderAndrew (Lamar) Lamar AlexanderPelosi says it was ‘sad’ to see McConnell ‘humiliate’ Chief Justice Roberts while presiding over witness voteSunday shows preview: Lawmakers prepare for final vote on impeachment; 2020 Democrats make final push before Iowa causesTrump shares photo of himself golfing as Senate nears end of trialMOREs (R-Tenn.) announcement Thursday that he will vote against subpoenas, Roberts is now Democrats best hope.
If its a tie, it will be up to the chief justice. The chief justice knows every trial has witnesses and documents, Schumer told reporters Friday morning, though he declined to discuss the scenario at length.
The prospect of a 50-50 tie on the crucial procedural question depends on the last undecided Republican, Sen. Lisa MurkowskiLisa Ann MurkowskiPelosi says it was ‘sad’ to see McConnell ‘humiliate’ Chief Justice Roberts while presiding over witness voteWarriors coach Steve Kerr knocks senators for voting against new witnesses at trial Trump shares photo of himself golfing as Senate nears end of trialMORE (Alaska), who said she would make an announcement Friday morning on how she would vote.
If she joins Sens. Susan CollinsSusan Margaret CollinsPelosi says it was ‘sad’ to see McConnell ‘humiliate’ Chief Justice Roberts while presiding over witness voteWarriors coach Steve Kerr knocks senators for voting against new witnesses at trial Behind the scenes of McConnell’s impeachment dramaMORE (R-Maine) and Mitt RomneyWillard (Mitt) Mitt RomneyPelosi says it was ‘sad’ to see McConnell ‘humiliate’ Chief Justice Roberts while presiding over witness voteWarriors coach Steve Kerr knocks senators for voting against new witnesses at trial Behind the scenes of McConnell’s impeachment dramaMORE (R-Utah) in voting for subpoenas, then the motion to consider new evidence would be deadlocked 50-50.
Senate Republican leaders have argued for weeks that the motion to call new witnesses and documents should fail on a 50-50 vote, but theres precedent for a chief justice breaking a tie on a procedural question in an impeachment trial.
Then Chief Justice Salmon P. Chase broke two ties on motions to adjourn in President Andrew Johnsons 1868 impeachment trial. And a motion in the trial to prevent the chief justice from breaking a tie was defeated.
Even so, Democrats view the prospect of Roberts settling the argument over whether new evidence should be weighed as a long shot because it would risk politicizing the court.
The chief justice breaking a tie is a very last resort to uphold the credibility and trust of our justice system. If necessary, the chief justice might decide to break the tie. I think theres a powerful argument for it. I think the odds are he will decide against doing that, said Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.).