McConnell Signs Hawley’s Resolution to Change Senate Rules, Dismiss Articles of Impeachment

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell signed a resolution by Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) that dismisses the articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump:

Changing the rules would either require a two-thirds vote or for Republicans to deploy the “nuclear” option.The resolution would give the House 25 days to send articles of impeachment over to the Senate. After that, a senator could offer a motion to dismiss “with prejudice for failure by the House of Representatives to prosecute such articles” with a simple majority vote, according to Hawley’s proposal.McConnell has repeatedly lashed out at Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) for delaying sending over the two articles of impeachment.”This is what they have done: They have initiated one of the most grave and most unsettling processes in our Constitution and then refused to allow a resolution,” he said on Thursday.‘The Speaker began something that she herself predicted would be ‘so divisive to the country’ … and now she is unilaterally saying it cannot move forward towards a resolution,” he added.

McConnell told GOP senators the chamber will likely start the impeachment trial next week. Three senators at the lunch said the leader suggested the senators get ready not to go home next weekend.

Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-ND) said McConnell basically told them the senators have no reason to stay in DC this weekend, “but don’t expect to be home next weekend.”

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi has held onto the articles of impeachment since the House passed them in December. Senate Democrats have pressured Pelosi to give them the articles, but she confirmed this morning that she will release the articles when she is ready.

Tags: Mitch McConnell, Trump Impeachment

CLICK HERE FOR FULL VERSION OF THIS STORY