Democrats plan to swiftly force several votes on subpoenaing witnesses — votes that Republicans have pledged to band together to defeat. “Republicans have the votes to start the trial” without witnesses, as occurred in the 1999 Senate impeachment trial of President Clinton, said Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.). The second, for obstruction of Congress, focuses on his directions to aides not to testify or provide documents to the House impeachment inquiry. And lead House trial manager Rep. Adam B. Schiff (D-Burbank) said he expected more evidence to come out in the course of a trial. The rare nature of a Senate impeachment trial means some scenarios are relatively unknown, such as the role Roberts can and cannot play in how the Senate might handle a potential 50-50 tie.

Source: Los Angeles Times January 21, 2020 12:00 UTC