He cannot stop a trial.

I don't think the Majority Leader has any power at all in an Impeachment trial once the articles are voted out of the House...

it won't fly. The other GOP senators would like to have at least a little chance to try and get elected again. My bet is that they will try to persuade Trump to resign to avoid having to do a trial.

That said, he can still muck things up, or at least try. The house appointed representatives are the prosecution. I forget exactly how the defense is appointed.

But it isn't a trial in the sense that there are lawyers arguing. Facts are presented, the presidents rep's get to present their alternate reality, there is debate, and a vote.

But no doubt, trump and his allies will try to turn it into chaos. They will attempt to de-legitimize it, smear the witnesses, muehler, and even roberts.

He will no doubt insist roberts recuse himself.

This will not end well, and will look nothing like the clinton hearings.

The constitution gives the power to hold a trial pursuant to impeachment to the senate. It follows that they can't be forced to hold a trial, otherwise it's not a "power" of the senate.

Whether mcturtle can stop it all by himself, or needs a majority of the senate, that I don't know. That depends on rarely-used senate rules.

Because it is a Senate rule, McConnell could get it changed with enough votes



https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/resources/pdf/4_1934AshurstResolutionRuleXI.pdf

they can put it off as long as they want.

Even through Nov. 2020.

can bring impeachment charges...if Senate does not convict on charge "A", they can impeach on charge "B", etc.

good to know. My recollection of this process is a little rusty. Guess I better refresh my memory this next couple days. I expect shit to fly fast and furious at this point. I'm not leaving the house until I can pull myself away from this nightmare.

I have the same kind of gut feeling like I had on 11/12/01, and that's not good considering what happened afterward.

I'm thinking I may need a helmet to add to my poncho themed ensemble.