Pelosi withhold Impeachment Articles against Trump, delays Senate Trial

Hours after President Donald Trump was impeached by the US Congress, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has hinted on temporarily withholding the articles of impeachment from the Senate – a decision she suggested could depend on how the other chamber chooses to conduct its trial on Trump’s removal.

Though the House adopted two articles of impeachment charging Trump with abuse of power and obstruction of congressional investigations, it must pass a second resolution formally naming impeachment managers to present the case in the Senate.

Pelosi who spoke on not transmitting the articles to the Senate shortly after the impeachment process cited concerns about an unfair trial on removing President Donald Trump from office at the senate.

On naming the House “managers” who will present the case for removal to the Senate, Pelosi said;

“We cannot name managers until we see what the process is on the Senate side.

“So far we haven’t seen anything that looks fair to us. So hopefully it will be fair. And when we see what that is, we’ll send our managers.”

The notion has reportedly gained traction among some on the political left as a way of potentially forcing Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, to conduct a trial on more favourable terms for Democrats. And if no agreement is reached, some have argued the trial could be delayed indefinitely, denying Trump an expected acquittal.

Before President Trump was impeached, McConnell signalled that he preferred a relatively short trial where House managers will present the case for removal and Trump’s defence team rebuts it before a summary dismissal.

McConnell boasted that he has closely coordinated the planning of the trial with the White House and has repeatedly predicted Trump would be acquitted. He has also suggested Democrats shouldn’t be allowed to call new witnesses as they attempt to present their case.