Senate Drafts Rules for Impeachment Trial: No Mobile Phones, No Talking

MARY CHASTAIN JAN 15, 2020 4:06 PM

The Senate released a draft of rules senators must follow during the impeachment trial. It includes no mobile phones and limits the press.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer wrote this letter to their colleagues.

They start off with access to the Senate wing on Capitol Hill. Obviously Sentars and members of Congress have access, but staff must have a Congressional ID and a special-issued credential. Official business visitors can only go if they have a staff member with proper ID escorts them.

The two leaders told Senators that if a media organization contacts them about credentials they should tell them “to call their respective Senate media gallery to inquire about obtaining a media credential.”

McConnell and Schumer instructed their colleagues not to stand on the floor. They requested the Senators “to remain in their seats at all times they are on the Senate floor during the impeachment proceedings.”

The staff of the Senators face restrictions on the floor as well. Only those with “official impeachment proceedings duties” will have access to the floor.

Other rules:

• They can’t have their phones: “No use of phones or electronic devices will be allowed in the Chamber.”
• They have to call Roberts by this title: During the course of the proceedings the Chief Justice should be referred to as “Mr. Chief Justice.”
• When they vote, they must stand: “Should votes be required during the proceedings, Senators will stand and vote from their seats.”

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