Sen. Eric Schmitt scuttled a last-minute attempt by Senate leaders on a modest deal to structure the impeachment trial against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, sending the chamber toward a quick Democratic dismissal of the charges.
Most of the GOP conference preferred the pact, which would force Democrats to take several tough votes. But after Senate Republicans met on Wednesday afternoon to discuss the parameters of the agreement, which would have allowed several votes and debate, the Missouri Republican emerged unbowed to anything other than a full trial.
“I’m not going to participate in lighting the Constitution on fire and 200 years of precedent. Why would we negotiate away our constitutional duty?” he said. He also posted a video of Michael Corleone, the famous “Godfather” character, saying, “My offer is this: nothing.”
Senators were set to be sworn into a trial at 1 p.m. as they sailed toward an afternoon of procedural votes and — ultimately — Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s plan to dispose of the impeachment trial. Schumer implored the GOP to sign off his plan, which included allowing the GOP to vote on motions to hold a full trial and create a trial committee.
Without a deal, Republicans won’t get the votes on the motions to hold a trial or form a trial committee, said Minority Whip John Thune. Instead, Republicans will be able to force a few votes on points of order. Essentially, the proceedings will be essentially “unstructured,” said Sen. Mike Braun (R-Ind.).
Schumer then intends to end the impeachment action Wednesday and move on to keeping a key intelligence authority from expiring Saturday.
“To validate this gross abuse by the House would be a grave mistake and could set a dangerous precedent for the future. For the sake of the Senate’s integrity and to protect impeachment for those rare cases we truly need it, senators should dismiss today’s charges,” Schumer said.