pbs--2020-01-18--House outlines impeachment case, Trump team has fiery answer

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump ’ s legal team issued a fiery response ahead of opening arguments in his impeachment trial Saturday while House Democrats laid out their case in forceful fashion , saying the president had “ abandoned his oath ” and betrayed the public trust .
The dueling statements previewed arguments both sides intend to make once Trump ’ s impeachment trial begins in earnest on Tuesday .
Both sides are seeking to make their case for a Republican-led Senate and for an American public bracing for a presidential election in 10 months .
The House ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public testimony of a dozen witnesses — ambassadors and national security officials at high levels of government — who raised concerns about the president ’ s actions with Ukraine .
Stripped of legalese and structured in plain English , the document underscored the extent to which the impeachment proceedings are a political rather than conventional legal process .
The Trump team similarly offered a taste of the rhetoric expected to be deployed by the president ’ s defenders in the Senate .
In their brief , the House managers overseeing the prosecution wrote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ‘ evidence overwhelmingly establishes ” that Trump is guilty of both charges .
“ The only remaining question is whether the members of the Senate will accept and carry out the responsibility placed on them by the Framers of our Constitution and their constitutional Oaths , ” the brief states .
The Trump team , meanwhile , called the Senate ’ s formal impeachment summons to two articles of impeachment passed by the House last month “ a dangerous attack on the right of the American people to freely choose their president.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attempt to overturn the results of the 2016 election and interfere with the 2020 election , now just months away , ” the filing states .
Trump ’ s legal team , led by White House counsel Pat Cipollone and Trump personal lawyer Jay Sekulow , is challenging the impeachment on both procedural and constitutional grounds , claiming Trump has been mistreated by House Democrats and that he did nothing wrong .
Trump ’ s attorneys argue that the articles of impeachment are unconstitutional in and of themselves and invalid because they don @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was impeached by the House on one count each of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress .
Under the Constitution impeachment is a political , not a criminal process , and the president can be removed from office if found guilty of whatever lawmakers consider “ high crimes and misdemeanors.
” Trump ’ s answer to the summons was the first salvo in what will be several rounds of arguments before the trial formally begin on Tuesday .
Trump will file a more detailed legal brief on Monday , and the House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump filing on Tuesday .
Trump on Friday named Ken Starr , the prosecutor whose investigation two decades ago led to the impeachment of President Bill Clinton , along with former Harvard Law professor Alan Dershowitz , to his defense team .
The additions bring experience in the politics of impeachment as well as constitutional law to Trump ’ s made-for-TV legal team .
Both Starr and Dershowitz have been fixtures on Fox News Channel , Trump ’ s preferred television network .
Dershowitz said he will deliver constitutional arguments defending Trump from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump is also accused of obstructing Congress as it sought to investigate pressure he applied on Ukraine ’ s president to announce an investigation into Trump ’ s political rivals as the president withheld the security aid and a White House meeting as leverage .
Trump says he did nothing wrong and argues that Democrats have been out to get him since before he took office .
A legal brief from the White House laying out the contours of Trump ’ s defense was due by noon Monday , and White House attorneys @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been debating just how political the document should be .
Some in the administration have echoed warnings from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , R-Ky. , that the pleadings must be sensitive to the Senate ’ s more staid traditions and leave some of the sharper rhetoric exhibited during the House proceedings to Twitter and cable news .
Dershowitz is a constitutional expert whose expansive views of presidential powers echo those of Trump .
Starr is a veteran of Washington ’ s partisan battles after leading the investigation into Clinton ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The House impeached Clinton , who then was acquitted at his Senate trial .
Trump is expecting the same outcome from the Republican-led chamber .
Still , the lead roles for Trump ’ s defense will be played by Cipollone and Sekulow , who also represented Trump during special counsel Robert Mueller ’ s Russia investigation .
Dershowitz sought to play down his role in the case in the hours after he was named to the team , saying he would be present for just about an hour to make the constitutional arguments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ full-fledged member of the defense team , ” he told “ The Dan Abrams Show ” on SiriusXM .
White House lawyers succeeded in keeping Trump from adding House Republican lawmakers to the defense team , but they also advised him against tapping Dershowitz , according to two people who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal discussions .
They ’ re concerned about the professor ’ s association with Jeffrey Epstein , the financier who killed himself in a New York City jail cell last summer while awaiting trial on sex @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said on the air that Starr would be parting ways with the network as a result of his role on the legal team .
Other members of Trump ’ s legal defense include Pam Bondi , the former Florida attorney general ; Jane Raskin , who was part of the president ’ s legal team during Mueller ’ s investigation ; Robert Ray , who was part of the Whitewater investigation of the Clintons ; and Eric D. Herschmann of the Kasowitz Benson Torres legal firm , which has represented Trump in numerous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Giuliani , a former New York-based federal prosecutor as well as the city ’ s former mayor , told The Associated Press the president had assembled a “ top-notch ” defense team and he was not disappointed at being excluded from it .
Giuliani , who many in the White House blame for leading Trump down the path to impeachment by fueling Ukraine conspiracies , had previously expressed interest in being on the legal team .
But he said Friday his focus would be on being a potential witness .
Trump was impeached @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were sworn in as jurors Thursday by Chief Justice John Roberts , who will preside over the trial .
Starr , besides his 1990s role as independent counsel , was a U.S. solicitor general and federal circuit court judge .
More recently , he was removed as president of Baylor University and then resigned as chancellor of the school in the wake of a review critical of the university ’ s handling of sexual assault allegations against football players .
Starr said his resignation was the result of the university ’ s board @ @ @ @ @ @ @ under new leadership following the scandal , not because he was accused of hiding or failing to act on information .
Dershowitz ’ s reputation has been damaged in recent years by his association with Epstein .
One of Epstein ’ s alleged victims , Virginia Roberts Giuffre , has accused Dershowitz of participating in her abuse .
Dershowitz has denied it and has been battling in court for years with Giuffre and her lawyers .
He recently wrote a book , “ Guilt by Accusation , ” rejecting her allegations .
Giuffre @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for defamation .
Associated Press writers Lisa Mascaro in Washington and David Caruso in New York contributed to this report .

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s legal team issued a fiery response ahead of opening arguments in his impeachment trial Saturday while House Democrats laid out their case in forceful fashion, saying the president had betrayed public trust with behavior that was the “worst nightmare” of the founding fathers.
The dueling statements previewed arguments both sides intend to make once Trump’s impeachment trial begins in earnest on Tuesday. Their challenge will be to make a case that appeals to senators who will render the verdict and for an American public bracing for a presidential election in 10 months.
The House’s 111-page brief pulled together the private and public testimony of a dozen witnesses — ambassadors and national security officials at high levels of government — who raised concerns about the president’s actions with Ukraine. Stripped of legalese and structured in plain English, the document underscored the extent to which the impeachment proceedings are a political rather than conventional legal process. The Trump team similarly offered a taste of the rhetoric expected to be deployed by the president’s defenders in the Senate.
In their brief, the House managers overseeing the prosecution wrote that it is clear that the “‘evidence overwhelmingly establishes” that Trump is guilty of both charges for which he was impeached last month: abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.
“The only remaining question is whether the members of the Senate will accept and carry out the responsibility placed on them by the Framers of our Constitution and their constitutional Oaths,” the brief states.
The Trump team, meanwhile, called the Senate’s formal impeachment summons to the two articles of impeachment “a dangerous attack on the right of the American people to freely choose their president.”
Trump’s legal team, led by White House counsel Pat Cipollone and Trump personal lawyer Jay Sekulow, is challenging the impeachment on both procedural and constitutional grounds, claiming Trump has been mistreated by House Democrats and that he did nothing wrong.
“This is a brazen and unlawful attempt to overturn the results of the 2016 election and interfere with the 2020 election, now just months away,” the filing states.
The lawyers said Trump “categorically and unequivocally” denies the allegations and encouraged lawmakers to reject “poisonous partisanship” and “vindicate the will of the American people” by rejecting both articles.
Trump’s answer to the summons was the first salvo in what will be several rounds of arguments before the trial formally begins. Trump will file a more detailed legal brief on Monday, and the House will be able to respond to the Trump filing on Tuesday.
The House’s impeachment managers are working through the weekend and will be at the Capitol midday Sunday to prep the case.
The filings came a day after Trump finalized his legal team, adding Ken Starr, the former independent counsel whose investigation into President Bill Clinton led to his impeachment, and Alan Dershowitz, a Harvard law professor emeritus who intends to make constitutional arguments.
People close to the legal team said Cipollone would deliver the president’s opening argument before the Senate and that Sekulow would follow. Starr and Dershowitz would have “discrete functions” on the legal team, according to those close to the legal team, who were not authorized to discuss the strategy by name and spoke on condition of anonymity.
At issue in the impeachment cases are allegations that Trump requested his Ukraine counterpart to investigate political rival Joe Biden at the same time his administration withheld hundreds of millions of dollars in aid from the former Soviet republic.
“President Trump abused the powers of his office to invite foreign interference in an election for his own personal political gain and to the detriment of American national security interests,” the House brief states. “He abandoned his oath to faithfully execute the laws and betrayed his public trust.
It says: “President Trump’s misconduct presents a danger to our democratic processes, our national security, and our commitment to the rule of law. He must be removed from office.
Trump’s attorneys argue that the articles of impeachment are unconstitutional in and of themselves and invalid because they don’t allege a crime.
Under the Constitution impeachment is a political, not a criminal process, and the president can be removed from office if found guilty of whatever lawmakers consider “high crimes and misdemeanors.”
White House attorneys and Trump’s outside legal team have been debating just how political Monday’s legal brief laying out the contours of Trump’s defense should be. Some in the administration have echoed warnings from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., that the pleadings must be sensitive to the Senate’s more staid traditions and leave some of the sharper rhetoric exhibited during the House proceedings to Twitter and cable news.
One Republican whose votes are closely watched, Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, told reporters Saturday she wants to hear both sides of the case before deciding if they need to hear new witnesses. Democrats have pushed for calling witnesses.
“I don’t know what more we need until I’ve been given the base case,” Murkowski said. She also acknowledged the political pressure bearing down on senators. “I’m going to take my constitutional obligations very, very seriously.”
Associated Press writers Mary Clare Jalonick in Washington and Becky Bohrer in Anchorage, Alaska, contributed to this report.


pbs--2020-01-18--Thousands gather for Women's March rallies across the US

WASHINGTON — Thousands gathered in cities across the country Saturday as part of the nationwide Women ’ s March rallies focused on issues such as climate change , pay equity , reproductive rights and immigration .
Hundreds showed up in New York City and thousands in Washington , D.C. for the rallies , which aim to harness the political power of women , although crowds were noticeably smaller than in previous years .
Marches were scheduled Saturday in more than 180 cities .
The first marches in 2017 drew hundreds of thousands of people to rallies in cities across the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump was inaugurated .
That year ’ s D.C. march drew close to 1 million people .
In Manhattan on Saturday , hundreds of people who gathered at separate events in Foley Square and Columbus Circle planned to converge at Times Square as part of a “ Rise and Roar ” rally .
“ Today , we will be the change that is needed in this world !
Today , we rise into our power !
” activist Donna Hill told a cheering crowd in Foley Square .
In downtown Los Angeles , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ filled several blocks as they made their way from a plaza to a park adjacent to City Hall , where a rally featured speeches by Jennifer Siebel Newsom , the wife of California Gov .
Gavin Newsom , Mayor Eric Garcetti , Rep. Maxine Waters and others .
Jennifer Siebel Newsom credited women for mobilizing against gun violence , creating the # MeToo movement against sexual harassment and discrimination , and taking back the Democratic majority in the House of Representatives .
“ In 2020 , I have no doubt that it will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rise up and move this country forward on a path toward justice , ” she said .
In Denver , organizers opted to skip the rally after the march and instead invited participants to meet with local organizations to learn more about issues such as reproductive rights , climate change , gun safety and voting .
Several thousand came out for the protest in Washington , far fewer than last year when about 100,000 people held a rally east of the White House .
But as in previous years , many of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s capital from cities across the country to express their opposition to Trump and his policies .
From their gathering spot on Freedom Plaza , they had a clear view down Pennsylvania Avenue to the U.S. Capitol , where the impeachment trial gets underway in the Senate next week .
In Washington , three key issues seemed to galvanize most of the protesters : climate change , immigration and reproductive rights .
“ I teach a lot of immigrant students , and in political times like this I want to make sure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ speak up for them , ” said Rochelle McGurn , 30 , an elementary school teacher from Burlington , Vermont who was in D.C. to march .
“ They need to feel like they belong , because they do.
” Peta Madry of New London , Connecticut , was celebrating her 70th birthday in D.C. by attending her fourth Women ’ s March with her sister , Cynthia Barnard , of San Rafael , California .
Both women were wearing handknitted pink hats that date from the first march .
With pained expressions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ determination to reverse the policies of his predecessor Barack Obama and his treatment of women .
“ Look what he ’ s doing to Greta Thunberg , ” Madry said , referring to the teenage climate activist .
“ He ’ s the biggest bully in the world.
” Melissa McCullough of Georgetown , Indiana , said when she recently turned 50 she promised herself that she would get more involved politically .
“ I ’ m here to protest Trump , as a woman , ” she said .
Her daughter , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , chimed in to say that most women ’ s issues are human issues , and they talked about the need to protect immigrants .
“ You have to push to protect everyone or no one ’ s safe , ” Melissa McCullough said .
The protesters planned to march around the White House , but Trump wasn ’ t there .
He is spending the holiday weekend at his resort in Florida .
Organizers of the Washington march faced criticism from some local African American activists for failing to focus on local @ @ @ @ @ @ @ activists to organize .
“ Local D.C. is a domestic colony and the actions of national organizers have to recognize that , ” Black Lives Matter D.C. wrote in a letter this week to Women ’ s March organizers .
“ Here in D.C. , these unstrategic mass mobilizations distract from local organizing , often overlook the black people who actually live here and even result in tougher laws against demonstration being passed locally.
” Associated Press reporter Daisy Nguyen in San Francisco contributed to this report .

WASHINGTON — Thousands gathered in cities across the country Saturday as part of the nationwide Women’s March rallies focused on issues such as climate change, pay equity, reproductive rights and immigration.
Hundreds showed up in New York City and thousands in Washington, D.C. for the rallies, which aim to harness the political power of women, although crowds were noticeably smaller than in previous years. Marches were scheduled Saturday in more than 180 cities.
The first marches in 2017 drew hundreds of thousands of people to rallies in cities across the country on the day after President Donald Trump was inaugurated. That year’s D.C. march drew close to 1 million people.
In Manhattan on Saturday, hundreds of people who gathered at separate events in Foley Square and Columbus Circle planned to converge at Times Square as part of a “Rise and Roar” rally.
“Today, we will be the change that is needed in this world! Today, we rise into our power!” activist Donna Hill told a cheering crowd in Foley Square.
In downtown Los Angeles, thousands of men, women and children filled several blocks as they made their way from a plaza to a park adjacent to City Hall, where a rally featured speeches by Jennifer Siebel Newsom, the wife of California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Mayor Eric Garcetti, Rep. Maxine Waters and others.
Jennifer Siebel Newsom credited women for mobilizing against gun violence, creating the #MeToo movement against sexual harassment and discrimination, and taking back the Democratic majority in the House of Representatives.
“In 2020, I have no doubt that it will be women who will lead again, rise up and move this country forward on a path toward justice,” she said.
In Denver, organizers opted to skip the rally after the march and instead invited participants to meet with local organizations to learn more about issues such as reproductive rights, climate change, gun safety and voting.
Several thousand came out for the protest in Washington, far fewer than last year when about 100,000 people held a rally east of the White House. But as in previous years, many of the protesters made the trip to the nation’s capital from cities across the country to express their opposition to Trump and his policies. From their gathering spot on Freedom Plaza, they had a clear view down Pennsylvania Avenue to the U.S. Capitol, where the impeachment trial gets underway in the Senate next week.
In Washington, three key issues seemed to galvanize most of the protesters: climate change, immigration and reproductive rights.
“I teach a lot of immigrant students, and in political times like this I want to make sure I’m using my voice to speak up for them,” said Rochelle McGurn, 30, an elementary school teacher from Burlington, Vermont who was in D.C. to march. “They need to feel like they belong, because they do.”
Peta Madry of New London, Connecticut, was celebrating her 70th birthday in D.C. by attending her fourth Women’s March with her sister, Cynthia Barnard, of San Rafael, California. Both women were wearing handknitted pink hats that date from the first march. With pained expressions, they spoke about Trump’s determination to reverse the policies of his predecessor Barack Obama and his treatment of women.
“Look what he’s doing to Greta Thunberg,” Madry said, referring to the teenage climate activist. “He’s the biggest bully in the world.”
Melissa McCullough of Georgetown, Indiana, said when she recently turned 50 she promised herself that she would get more involved politically. “I’m here to protest Trump, as a woman,” she said.
Her daughter, 19-year-old University of Cincinnati student Elizabeth McCullough, chimed in to say that most women’s issues are human issues, and they talked about the need to protect immigrants.
“You have to push to protect everyone or no one’s safe,” Melissa McCullough said.
The protesters planned to march around the White House, but Trump wasn’t there. He is spending the holiday weekend at his resort in Florida.
Organizers of the Washington march faced criticism from some local African American activists for failing to focus on local issues and damaging the ability of local activists to organize.
“Local D.C. is a domestic colony and the actions of national organizers have to recognize that,” Black Lives Matter D.C. wrote in a letter this week to Women’s March organizers. “Here in D.C., these unstrategic mass mobilizations distract from local organizing, often overlook the black people who actually live here and even result in tougher laws against demonstration being passed locally.”
Associated Press reporter Daisy Nguyen in San Francisco contributed to this report.


pbs--2020-01-18--Impeachment lands Sen. Collins in familiar spot: crosshairs

WASHINGTON — Facing perhaps her toughest reelection fight , veteran Sen. Susan Collins has parachuted into familiar terrain — the heart of a hot-button issue , this time President Donald Trump ’ s impeachment .
With Senate trial proceedings starting Tuesday , the moderate Maine Republican says she ’ ll probably support a motion to call witnesses , aligning herself with Democrats .
But she says she ’ ll do that only after each side has argued its case and she says she ’ s not decided whether she ’ ll back seeking “ any particular witness.
” It ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and her track record of seeking bipartisan deals that sometimes fly and sometimes flounder on major issues such as immigration — that have won her respect and scorn .
Collins , 67 , has embraced that approach for nearly 24 years in the Senate , even as compromise has grown increasingly scarce and politically perilous in the age of the retaliation-prone Trump .
She did it again last week , saying she and three fellow Republicans had won a commitment from GOP leaders for a vote on whether to call witnesses .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many times when very few on the Republican side of the aisle would be , ” said Illinois Sen. Richard Durbin , the No .
2 Senate Democrat .
But he added , “ There have been moments when she broke my political heart.
” One of those times , he said , was Collins ’ pivotal vote putting Trump nominee Brett Kavanaugh on the Supreme Court in 2018 , despite allegations of sexual assault .
That vote won Collins appreciation from conservatives who had long bristled at her moderate stances but enmity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her views on issues such as abortion rights .
Maine voters ’ reaction to her Kavanaugh vote will help determine whether Collins wins a fifth six-year term in the November elections .
Supporters call Collins a voice for moderation who is not afraid to oppose Trump , such as helping derail his 2017 effort to kill President Barack Obama ’ s health care law .
Just last week , she was among four Republicans to say they will back a Democratic bill curbing Trump ’ s ability to attack Iran .
“ The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Susan Collins , ” said Sarah Chamberlain , president of the moderate Republican Main Street Coalition .
Foes call Collins an opportunist more interested in burnishing her centrist brand than producing results .
They say she has bowed to Trump too often and that his divisive policies and rhetoric mean the time for half-measures has passed .
“ She ’ s not adapted , and she has to actually pick a side , and that side is right or wrong , ” said Ilyse Hogue , president of NARAL Pro-Choice America .
Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tweet saying , “ I agree 100 % ” with an earlier tweet by Sen. Lindsey Graham , R-S.C. , urging her reelection .
It is unclear how that will play in Maine , where voters recall that Collins said she would not vote for Trump in 2016 .
Collins ’ newest ordeal is over impeachment .
Democrats say testimony from four current and former White House officials plus documents , which Trump blocked House investigators from receiving , are needed for the Senate trial to be fair .
Senate Minority Leader Chuck @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on that message , implicitly pressuring Republicans by saying senators must choose whether to be “ in the search of truth , or in service of the president ’ s desire to cover it up.
” The Senate Democrats ’ campaign arm has created a website called WhatChangedSusan.com , which contrasts her statements backing additional evidence during President Bill Clinton ’ s 1999 impeachment trial with her nuanced comments so far .
With Republicans controlling the Senate 53-47 , Democrats will need four GOP senators to join them to successfully call witnesses .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and her three allies : Sens .
Lamar Alexander of Tennessee , Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Mitt Romney of Utah .
Collins is the only one of the four seeking reelection this year .
She said of Schumer : “ I don ’ t think he ’ s really very interested in doing anything but trying to defeat me by telling lies to the people of Maine.
” She has said she wants to follow the Clinton impeachment process and will not decide whether to support calling witnesses until the Trump trial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weeks .
That means if Schumer , as promised , forces votes Tuesday on calling witnesses , Collins will vote “ no ” and immediately draw Democratic criticism for squelching needed testimony .
Democrats facing what seems an uphill climb to grab the Senate majority certainly do want to defeat Collins , one of the more vulnerable GOP incumbents .
They hope to erode her support in narrowly divided Maine by emphasizing her vote for Kavanaugh , for a $ 1.5 trillion tax bill that disproportionately helped corporations and high-earning people and , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ acquit Trump , on impeachment .
Some groups that have backed Collins ’ past reelections have come out against her or stayed silent .
NARAL Pro-Choice America and the League of Conservation Voters have endorsed Sara Gideon , speaker of the Maine House and leading contender for the Democratic Senate nomination .
“ When the stakes have never been higher and when we have never needed her more during the Trump era , we have been disappointed on far too many occasions , ” said the League of Conservation Voters ’ top lobbyist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ support for the tax bill , which opened federal lands in Alaska to mineral drilling , and her vote for the conservative Kavanaugh .
“ There are plenty of opportunities where we can commiserate about things , ” said Alaska ’ s Murkowski , another moderate and one of Collins ’ closest Senate friends .
Collins ’ office did not make her available for this story .
A former congressional aide elected to the Senate in 1996 , Collins has helped forge or joined bipartisan pacts reorganizing the intelligence agencies , ending @ @ @ @ @ @ @ don ’ t tell ” ban on gays openly serving in the military and halting some government shutdowns .
A 2018 bipartisan compromise that she helped craft offering potential citizenship to many young immigrants died but it got more votes in the GOP-run Senate than any alternative , including Trump ’ s .
She got significant tax breaks included in a $ 1.5 trillion tax bill in 2017 and backed it after party leaders committed to separate votes on bills reining health care premiums , but those other measures went nowhere .

WASHINGTON — Facing perhaps her toughest reelection fight, veteran Sen. Susan Collins has parachuted into familiar terrain — the heart of a hot-button issue, this time President Donald Trump’s impeachment.
With Senate trial proceedings starting Tuesday, the moderate Maine Republican says she’ll probably support a motion to call witnesses, aligning herself with Democrats. But she says she’ll do that only after each side has argued its case and she says she’s not decided whether she’ll back seeking “any particular witness.”
It’s carefully parsed stances like that — and her track record of seeking bipartisan deals that sometimes fly and sometimes flounder on major issues such as immigration — that have won her respect and scorn.
Collins, 67, has embraced that approach for nearly 24 years in the Senate, even as compromise has grown increasingly scarce and politically perilous in the age of the retaliation-prone Trump. She did it again last week, saying she and three fellow Republicans had won a commitment from GOP leaders for a vote on whether to call witnesses.
“She’s been open to conversation many times when very few on the Republican side of the aisle would be,” said Illinois Sen. Richard Durbin, the No. 2 Senate Democrat. But he added, “There have been moments when she broke my political heart.”
One of those times, he said, was Collins’ pivotal vote putting Trump nominee Brett Kavanaugh on the Supreme Court in 2018, despite allegations of sexual assault. That vote won Collins appreciation from conservatives who had long bristled at her moderate stances but enmity from liberals who had been gratified by her views on issues such as abortion rights. Maine voters’ reaction to her Kavanaugh vote will help determine whether Collins wins a fifth six-year term in the November elections.
Supporters call Collins a voice for moderation who is not afraid to oppose Trump, such as helping derail his 2017 effort to kill President Barack Obama’s health care law. Just last week, she was among four Republicans to say they will back a Democratic bill curbing Trump’s ability to attack Iran.
“The Senate needs Susan Collins and people like Susan Collins,” said Sarah Chamberlain, president of the moderate Republican Main Street Coalition.
Foes call Collins an opportunist more interested in burnishing her centrist brand than producing results. They say she has bowed to Trump too often and that his divisive policies and rhetoric mean the time for half-measures has passed.
“She’s not adapted, and she has to actually pick a side, and that side is right or wrong,” said Ilyse Hogue, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America.
Trump seemed to endorse her in a pre-Christmas tweet saying, “I agree 100%” with an earlier tweet by Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., urging her reelection. It is unclear how that will play in Maine, where voters recall that Collins said she would not vote for Trump in 2016.
Collins’ newest ordeal is over impeachment. Democrats say testimony from four current and former White House officials plus documents, which Trump blocked House investigators from receiving, are needed for the Senate trial to be fair.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., has hammered away on that message, implicitly pressuring Republicans by saying senators must choose whether to be “in the search of truth, or in service of the president’s desire to cover it up.” The Senate Democrats’ campaign arm has created a website called WhatChangedSusan.com, which contrasts her statements backing additional evidence during President Bill Clinton’s 1999 impeachment trial with her nuanced comments so far.
With Republicans controlling the Senate 53-47, Democrats will need four GOP senators to join them to successfully call witnesses. That’s heaped pressure on Collins and her three allies: Sens. Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Mitt Romney of Utah.
Collins is the only one of the four seeking reelection this year. She said of Schumer: “I don’t think he’s really very interested in doing anything but trying to defeat me by telling lies to the people of Maine.”
She has said she wants to follow the Clinton impeachment process and will not decide whether to support calling witnesses until the Trump trial arguments are complete, perhaps in two weeks. That means if Schumer, as promised, forces votes Tuesday on calling witnesses, Collins will vote “no” and immediately draw Democratic criticism for squelching needed testimony.
Democrats facing what seems an uphill climb to grab the Senate majority certainly do want to defeat Collins, one of the more vulnerable GOP incumbents. They hope to erode her support in narrowly divided Maine by emphasizing her vote for Kavanaugh, for a $1.5 trillion tax bill that disproportionately helped corporations and high-earning people and, if she opposes witnesses or votes to acquit Trump, on impeachment.
Some groups that have backed Collins’ past reelections have come out against her or stayed silent. NARAL Pro-Choice America and the League of Conservation Voters have endorsed Sara Gideon, speaker of the Maine House and leading contender for the Democratic Senate nomination.
“When the stakes have never been higher and when we have never needed her more during the Trump era, we have been disappointed on far too many occasions,” said the League of Conservation Voters’ top lobbyist, Tiernan Sittenfeld. She cited Collins’ support for the tax bill, which opened federal lands in Alaska to mineral drilling, and her vote for the conservative Kavanaugh.
“There are plenty of opportunities where we can commiserate about things,” said Alaska’s Murkowski, another moderate and one of Collins’ closest Senate friends.
Collins’ office did not make her available for this story.
A former congressional aide elected to the Senate in 1996, Collins has helped forge or joined bipartisan pacts reorganizing the intelligence agencies, ending the “don’t ask, don’t tell” ban on gays openly serving in the military and halting some government shutdowns.
A 2018 bipartisan compromise that she helped craft offering potential citizenship to many young immigrants died but it got more votes in the GOP-run Senate than any alternative, including Trump’s. She got significant tax breaks included in a $1.5 trillion tax bill in 2017 and backed it after party leaders committed to separate votes on bills reining health care premiums, but those other measures went nowhere.


pbs--2020-01-18--Trump team, House managers trade sharp views on impeachment

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump ’ s legal team issued a fiery response ahead of opening arguments in his impeachment trial Saturday while House Democrats laid out their case in forceful fashion , saying the president had betrayed public trust with behavior that was the “ worst nightmare ” of the founding fathers .
The dueling statements previewed arguments both sides intend to make once Trump ’ s impeachment trial begins in earnest on Tuesday .
Their challenge will be to make a case that appeals to senators who will render the verdict and for an American public bracing for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The House ’ s 111-page brief pulled together the private and public testimony of a dozen witnesses — ambassadors and national security officials at high levels of government — who raised concerns about the president ’ s actions with Ukraine .
Stripped of legalese and structured in plain English , the document underscored the extent to which the impeachment proceedings are a political rather than conventional legal process .
The Trump team similarly offered a taste of the rhetoric expected to be deployed by the president ’ s defenders in the Senate .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ overseeing the prosecution wrote that it is clear that the “ ‘ evidence overwhelmingly establishes ” that Trump is guilty of both charges for which he was impeached last month : abuse of power and obstruction of Congress .
“ The only remaining question is whether the members of the Senate will accept and carry out the responsibility placed on them by the Framers of our Constitution and their constitutional Oaths , ” the brief states .
The Trump team , meanwhile , called the Senate ’ s formal impeachment summons to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attack on the right of the American people to freely choose their president.
” Trump ’ s legal team , led by White House counsel Pat Cipollone and Trump personal lawyer Jay Sekulow , is challenging the impeachment on both procedural and constitutional grounds , claiming Trump has been mistreated by House Democrats and that he did nothing wrong .
“ This is a brazen and unlawful attempt to overturn the results of the 2016 election and interfere with the 2020 election , now just months away , ” the filing states .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ unequivocally ” denies the allegations and encouraged lawmakers to reject “ poisonous partisanship ” and “ vindicate the will of the American people ” by rejecting both articles .
Trump ’ s answer to the summons was the first salvo in what will be several rounds of arguments before the trial formally begins .
Trump will file a more detailed legal brief on Monday , and the House will be able to respond to the Trump filing on Tuesday .
The House ’ s impeachment managers are working through the weekend and will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prep the case .
The filings came a day after Trump finalized his legal team , adding Ken Starr , the former independent counsel whose investigation into President Bill Clinton led to his impeachment , and Alan Dershowitz , a Harvard law professor emeritus who intends to make constitutional arguments .
People close to the legal team said Cipollone would deliver the president ’ s opening argument before the Senate and that Sekulow would follow .
Starr and Dershowitz would have “ discrete functions ” on the legal team , according to those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were not authorized to discuss the strategy by name and spoke on condition of anonymity .
At issue in the impeachment cases are allegations that Trump requested his Ukraine counterpart to investigate political rival Joe Biden at the same time his administration withheld hundreds of millions of dollars in aid from the former Soviet republic .
“ President Trump abused the powers of his office to invite foreign interference in an election for his own personal political gain and to the detriment of American national security interests , ” the House brief states @ @ @ @ @ @ @ faithfully execute the laws and betrayed his public trust .
It says : “ President Trump ’ s misconduct presents a danger to our democratic processes , our national security , and our commitment to the rule of law .
He must be removed from office .
Trump ’ s attorneys argue that the articles of impeachment are unconstitutional in and of themselves and invalid because they don ’ t allege a crime .
Under the Constitution impeachment is a political , not a criminal process , and the president can be removed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lawmakers consider “ high crimes and misdemeanors.
” White House attorneys and Trump ’ s outside legal team have been debating just how political Monday ’ s legal brief laying out the contours of Trump ’ s defense should be .
Some in the administration have echoed warnings from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , R-Ky. , that the pleadings must be sensitive to the Senate ’ s more staid traditions and leave some of the sharper rhetoric exhibited during the House proceedings to Twitter and cable news .
One Republican whose votes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Alaska , told reporters Saturday she wants to hear both sides of the case before deciding if they need to hear new witnesses .
Democrats have pushed for calling witnesses .
“ I don ’ t know what more we need until I ’ ve been given the base case , ” Murkowski said .
She also acknowledged the political pressure bearing down on senators .
“ I ’ m going to take my constitutional obligations very , very seriously.
” Associated Press writers Mary Clare Jalonick in Washington and Becky Bohrer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this report .


pbs--2020-01-19--Schiff accuses NSA, CIA of withholding documents on Ukraine

WASHINGTON — The chairman of the House Intelligence Committee is accusing U.S. intelligence agencies of withholding documents from Congress on Ukraine that could be significant to President Donald Trump ’ s impeachment trial .
“ They appear to be succumbing to pressure from the administration , ” Rep. Adam Schiff said Sunday on ABC ’ s “ This Week.
” Schiff was selected by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , D-Calif. , as the lead impeachment manager for Trump ’ s Senate trial .
Schiff , D-Calif. , contended that the National Security Agency “ in particular is withholding what are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Ukraine , but also withholding documents potentially relevant that the senators might want to see during the trial .
That is deeply concerning.
” He also said “ there are signs that the CIA may be on the same tragic course.
” The White House ’ s National Security Council referred questions to the intelligence agencies .
The CIA and NSA did not immediately respond to requests for comment .
Democrats have previously criticized the State Department for withholding relevant documents to the impeachment inquiry .
In the weeks since Trump was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on new evidence about Trump ’ s effort to pressure Ukraine to investigate his political rivals and are pushing the Senate to consider new documents and testimony , such as from former national security adviser John Bolton .
During the ABC interview , Schiff was asked about a Politico report that said intelligence officials were pushing the House and Senate Intelligence committees to drop the public portion of an annual briefing on world security threats following last year ’ s session in which Trump lashed out over the assessments on North Korea , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ request was reportedly being made in a bid to avoid a repeat in which intelligence officials might publicly disagree with Trump on the security risks .
“ Perhaps Intelligence should go back to school !
” Trump tweeted after that Jan. 29 hearing , before abruptly reversing course and saying he and the intelligence community “ are all on the same page.
” On Sunday , Schiff described the news reports as “ all too accurate.
” “ The intelligence community is reluctant to have an open hearing , something that we had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ administration , because they ’ re worried about angering the president , ” he said .
Associated Press writer Deb Riechmann contributed to this report .

WASHINGTON — The chairman of the House Intelligence Committee is accusing U.S. intelligence agencies of withholding documents from Congress on Ukraine that could be significant to President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial.
“They appear to be succumbing to pressure from the administration,” Rep. Adam Schiff said Sunday on ABC’s “This Week.” Schiff was selected by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., as the lead impeachment manager for Trump’s Senate trial.
Schiff, D-Calif., contended that the National Security Agency “in particular is withholding what are potentially relevant documents to our oversight responsibilities on Ukraine, but also withholding documents potentially relevant that the senators might want to see during the trial. That is deeply concerning.” He also said “there are signs that the CIA may be on the same tragic course.”
The White House’s National Security Council referred questions to the intelligence agencies. The CIA and NSA did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Trump’s impeachment trial resumes Tuesday.
Democrats have previously criticized the State Department for withholding relevant documents to the impeachment inquiry. In the weeks since Trump was impeached, Democrats have sought to focus on new evidence about Trump’s effort to pressure Ukraine to investigate his political rivals and are pushing the Senate to consider new documents and testimony, such as from former national security adviser John Bolton.
During the ABC interview, Schiff was asked about a Politico report that said intelligence officials were pushing the House and Senate Intelligence committees to drop the public portion of an annual briefing on world security threats following last year’s session in which Trump lashed out over the assessments on North Korea, Iran and the Islamic State.
The request was reportedly being made in a bid to avoid a repeat in which intelligence officials might publicly disagree with Trump on the security risks.
“Perhaps Intelligence should go back to school!” Trump tweeted after that Jan. 29 hearing, before abruptly reversing course and saying he and the intelligence community “are all on the same page.”
On Sunday, Schiff described the news reports as “all too accurate.”
“The intelligence community is reluctant to have an open hearing, something that we had done every year prior to the Trump administration, because they’re worried about angering the president,” he said.
Associated Press writer Deb Riechmann contributed to this report.


pbs--2020-01-19--No escape: Senators to be quiet, unplugged for Trump trial

No cellphones .
No talking .
No escape .
That ’ s the reality during the Senate ’ s impeachment trial of President Donald Trump , which will begin each day with a proclamation : “ All persons are commanded to keep silence , on pain of imprisonment.
” After that , 100 senators will sit at their desks for hours on end to hear from House prosecutors , Trump ’ s defense team and possibly a series of witnesses .
The first time the proclamation was used , in the 1868 trial of President Andrew Johnson , lawmakers couldn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ modern era .
The pace of today ’ s politics would have been hard to foresee even in early 1999 , at the start of the impeachment trial of President Bill Clinton , when smartphones didn ’ t exist .
And so the senators will have a throwback experience in 2020 , disconnected from the outside world , asked only to listen .
The normally chummy senators won ’ t even be allowed to talk at length to people nearby or walk on certain areas of the Senate floor .
Mostly they will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ focused on the issue at hand .
While senators might privately grumble about the restrictions — and will likely violate them at times — they agree that the rules are justified as they execute their most solemn duty : considering whether to remove the president of the United States from office .
An impeachment trial “ deserves our undivided attention , ” said Sen. Chris Coons , D-Del .
The ban on cellphones on the Senate floor isn ’ t new , but enforcement has become more relaxed in recent years .
Coons @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Senate a decade ago , he would be reprimanded if he even took his phone out of his pocket .
Today , senators are often spotted texting or looking at their phones while waiting to speak or vote — and a ring tone has sounded more than once .
Republican Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa joked that if there weren ’ t restrictions , senators would be “ Googling stuff ” and playing games on their phones .
Or worse , live tweeting the trial .
“ As much as I hate it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , I just think we need to pay attention , ” Ernst said .
Sen. Ben Cardin , D-Md.
, said it ’ s a “ healthy situation , ” and he compared it to when his wife asks him to leave the phone at home when they go out to dinner .
“ There will be some withdrawal symptoms , ” Cardin said .
“ We might have to take some tranquilizers.
” Cardin spent the first hours of the trial on Thursday taking notes .
As senators were sworn in as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , R-Ky. , announced the next steps , Cardin jotted notes on the process and what was happening .
He said the note-taking is “ one of my work habits ” that helps him keep his emotions in check , understand what ’ s going on and also record history as it happens .
Other senators were still adjusting .
Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California stole a few moments on her cellphone before an aide motioned to her that it was time to escort Chief Justice John Roberts into the chamber .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ stepped forward one by one to sign an oath book , Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders , who is running for the Democratic presidential nomination , clapped his hands quietly as if he was ready to get moving .
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse , D-R.I. , read through a stack of papers .
Republican Sen. Jerry Moran of Kansas peeked under the lid of his desk .
The ban on cellphones and any other materials unrelated to impeachment means that other Senate business will have to wait .
Decorum rules circulated to Senate offices say @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to only those readings which pertain to the matter before the Senate.
” “ The rest of the world keeps going on , ” said Sen. James Lankford , R-Okla. “ That ’ s the challenge that all of us have , is that we ’ re used to tracking international news and certainly news in our state , all the time , and now suddenly as things are moving along in our state , or around the world , we ’ ll be a little slower to be able to get to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the four senators running for the Democratic nomination for president who are competing in the Feb. 3 Iowa caucuses .
While their rivals are busy crossing the state and appealing to voters , the senators in the race will be still in their chairs in Washington .
And there won ’ t be many made-for-TV moments in the trial ; in most cases , senators aren ’ t allowed to speak .
Sanders said Thursday that he ’ s concerned about how it ’ s affecting his campaign .
“ I would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s a caucus there in two-and-a half weeks .
I ’ d rather be in New Hampshire and in Nevada and so forth , ” Sanders said .
“ But I swore a constitutional oath as a United States senator to do my job and I ’ m here to do my job.
” In addition to Sanders , Sens .
Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota , Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Michael Bennet of Colorado are running in the Democratic primary .
Senators won ’ t be totally out of touch .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ need to know , staff can pass them notes through the Senate cloakrooms .
“ It ’ s going to be a new experience for a lot of my colleagues to not be able to talk and not be able to consult our email or text messages , ” said Sen. John Cornyn , R-Texas , who said that as a former judge he ’ s used to sitting through long trials .
“ But we ’ ll live through it , it ’ ll be all right .
This is obviously a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we should be paying attention.
” Associated Press writers Lisa Mascaro and Padmananda Rama contributed to this report .

No cellphones. No talking. No escape.
That’s the reality during the Senate’s impeachment trial of President Donald Trump, which will begin each day with a proclamation: “All persons are commanded to keep silence, on pain of imprisonment.” After that, 100 senators will sit at their desks for hours on end to hear from House prosecutors, Trump’s defense team and possibly a series of witnesses.
The first time the proclamation was used, in the 1868 trial of President Andrew Johnson, lawmakers couldn’t have imagined life in the modern era. The pace of today’s politics would have been hard to foresee even in early 1999, at the start of the impeachment trial of President Bill Clinton, when smartphones didn’t exist.
And so the senators will have a throwback experience in 2020, disconnected from the outside world, asked only to listen. The normally chummy senators won’t even be allowed to talk at length to people nearby or walk on certain areas of the Senate floor. Mostly they will sit, trapped in the chamber, focused on the issue at hand.
While senators might privately grumble about the restrictions — and will likely violate them at times — they agree that the rules are justified as they execute their most solemn duty: considering whether to remove the president of the United States from office.
An impeachment trial “deserves our undivided attention,” said Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del.
The ban on cellphones on the Senate floor isn’t new, but enforcement has become more relaxed in recent years. Coons said that when he came to the Senate a decade ago, he would be reprimanded if he even took his phone out of his pocket. Today, senators are often spotted texting or looking at their phones while waiting to speak or vote — and a ring tone has sounded more than once.
Republican Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa joked that if there weren’t restrictions, senators would be “Googling stuff” and playing games on their phones. Or worse, live tweeting the trial.
“As much as I hate it, not being connected to a device, I just think we need to pay attention,” Ernst said.
Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Md., said it’s a “healthy situation,” and he compared it to when his wife asks him to leave the phone at home when they go out to dinner.
“There will be some withdrawal symptoms,” Cardin said. “We might have to take some tranquilizers.”
Cardin spent the first hours of the trial on Thursday taking notes. As senators were sworn in as jurors and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., announced the next steps, Cardin jotted notes on the process and what was happening. He said the note-taking is “one of my work habits” that helps him keep his emotions in check, understand what’s going on and also record history as it happens.
Other senators were still adjusting. Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California stole a few moments on her cellphone before an aide motioned to her that it was time to escort Chief Justice John Roberts into the chamber.
After the swearing-in, as their colleagues stepped forward one by one to sign an oath book, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, who is running for the Democratic presidential nomination, clapped his hands quietly as if he was ready to get moving. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., read through a stack of papers. Republican Sen. Jerry Moran of Kansas peeked under the lid of his desk.
The ban on cellphones and any other materials unrelated to impeachment means that other Senate business will have to wait. Decorum rules circulated to Senate offices say that “reading materials should be confined to only those readings which pertain to the matter before the Senate.”
“The rest of the world keeps going on,” said Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla. “That’s the challenge that all of us have, is that we’re used to tracking international news and certainly news in our state, all the time, and now suddenly as things are moving along in our state, or around the world, we’ll be a little slower to be able to get to it.”
The challenge is particularly acute for the four senators running for the Democratic nomination for president who are competing in the Feb. 3 Iowa caucuses. While their rivals are busy crossing the state and appealing to voters, the senators in the race will be still in their chairs in Washington. And there won’t be many made-for-TV moments in the trial; in most cases, senators aren’t allowed to speak.
Sanders said Thursday that he’s concerned about how it’s affecting his campaign.
“I would rather be in Iowa today, there’s a caucus there in two-and-a half weeks. I’d rather be in New Hampshire and in Nevada and so forth,” Sanders said. “But I swore a constitutional oath as a United States senator to do my job and I’m here to do my job.”
In addition to Sanders, Sens. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Michael Bennet of Colorado are running in the Democratic primary.
Senators won’t be totally out of touch. If there’s something they really need to know, staff can pass them notes through the Senate cloakrooms.
“It’s going to be a new experience for a lot of my colleagues to not be able to talk and not be able to consult our email or text messages,” said Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, who said that as a former judge he’s used to sitting through long trials.
“But we’ll live through it, it’ll be all right. This is obviously a very serious and grave matter, so we should be paying attention.”
Associated Press writers Lisa Mascaro and Padmananda Rama contributed to this report.


pbs--2020-01-20--Who's who on Trump's impeachment trial legal team

WASHINGTON ( AP ) — President Donald Trump ’ s legal advocates for his Senate impeachment trial will include a pair of well-known attorneys who have vigorously defended Trump on television and played roles in some of the most consequential legal dramas in recent history .
Among those assisting White House counsel Pat Cipollone and longtime Trump attorney Jay Sekulow on the defense will be Ken Starr , the independent counsel who investigated former President Bill Clinton .
Former Harvard University law professor Alan Dershowitz also will play a role .
Here ’ s a look at who ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Cipollone is an unassuming and private figure who built a career around complex litigation .
While he doesn ’ t have extensive trial experience , he has worked on numerous high-profile cases , including the lawsuit against credit reporting company Equifax after a massive data breach .
He also defended the University of Virginia student who claimed she was the victim of a gang rape at a fraternity house and was featured in a 2014 Rolling Stone article that was later retracted .
In the White House , he has forcefully defended @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and argued that congressional investigators have no right to question White House staffers about their conversations with the president .
Well-known in conservative circles , Sekulow is one of the president ’ s personal lawyers , having represented him during special counsel Robert Mueller ’ s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election .
The host of a radio and TV talk show , Sekulow has extensive media experience .
He has argued before the Supreme Court on at least a dozen occasions , including landmark cases on religious liberty .
As @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Law and Justice , Sekulow has also represented Trump in his fight to prevent the release of his tax returns .
A constitutional law expert and former Harvard professor , Dershowitz was part of O.J .
Simpson ’ s legal “ dream team.
” He voted for Democrat Hillary Clinton in 2016 but has nonetheless been a vocal public defender of Trump , writing a book titled “ The Case Against Impeaching Trump.
” Dershowitz said he will present oral arguments outlining the constitutional arguments against Trump ’ s impeachment to “ defend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prevent the creation of a dangerous constitutional precedent.
” He said he would not be a full-fledged member of the Trump legal team .
Dershowitz has defended a number of controversial clients including Jeffrey Epstein , the multimillionaire who killed himself in jail last summer while awaiting trial on charges that he sexually abused multiple underage girls .
One of Epstein ’ s accusers has also accused Dershowitz of participating in her abuse .
Dershowitz has vehemently denied the accusation .
Best known for his 1990s role as the independent counsel who investigated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ household name with his report on Clinton ’ s extramarital relationship with White House intern Monica Lewinsky .
That led to Clinton ’ s impeachment over 20 years ago .
A former U.S. solicitor general and federal circuit court judge , Starr has been a regular guest on Fox News , defending Trump on his favored network .
But he and Trump haven ’ t always been on the same page .
“ I think that Ken Starr is a lunatic .
I really think that Ken Starr is a disaster , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s “ Today ” in 1999 .
Starr was removed as president of Baylor University and then resigned as chancellor of the school in the wake of a review critical of the university ’ s handling of sexual assault allegations against football players .
Starr was also involved in the representation of Epstein .
A former federal prosecutor , Ray took over the Office of the Independent Counsel after Starr and is known for the lengthy report he wrote on the Clinton-Lewinsky affair .
He now focuses on white-collar criminal defense matters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , defending the president .
The former attorney general of Florida and a longtime Trump supporter , Bondi joined the White House communications team late last year on a temporary basis to help shape the administration ’ s defense strategy .
After stepping down from her Florida position in January , she worked as a lobbyist for Ballard Partners , representing clients including General Motors , the commissioner of Major League Baseball and a Christian anti-human-trafficking advocacy group .
She also registered as a foreign agent for the government of Qatar and as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to Justice Department foreign agent filings and congressional lobbying documents .
The former federal attorney handled organized crime and racketeering cases and now has a legal practice with her husband in Florida .
In the 1980s , she was a trial attorney with the Organized Crime and Racketeering Section ’ s Boston Strike Force , and her cases included the nine-month trial and conviction of the underboss of the New England Mafia .
She also served as counsel to the assistant attorney general of the Justice Department ’ s Criminal Division in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the District of Massachusetts .
She and her husband , Martin Raskin , later formed a law firm based in Coral Gables , Florida .
The two worked with Sekulow and Rudy Giuliani during the Mueller investigation .
He is a partner at Kasowitz Benson Torres LLP , a law firm that has represented Trump in numerous cases over the last 15 years .
Herschmann served various roles at the Southern Union Company , a natural gas utility , including as senior executive vice president , president and chief operating officer .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ website , he aided in the sale of the company in 2012 for more than $ 10 billion .
He also previously worked as a senior litigation counsel and as an assistant district attorney in the Manhattan District Attorney ’ s Office .

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump’s legal advocates for his Senate impeachment trial will include a pair of well-known attorneys who have vigorously defended Trump on television and played roles in some of the most consequential legal dramas in recent history.
Among those assisting White House counsel Pat Cipollone and longtime Trump attorney Jay Sekulow on the defense will be Ken Starr, the independent counsel who investigated former President Bill Clinton. Former Harvard University law professor Alan Dershowitz also will play a role.
Here’s a look at who’s who.
Pat Cipollone
The current White House counsel, Cipollone is an unassuming and private figure who built a career around complex litigation. While he doesn’t have extensive trial experience, he has worked on numerous high-profile cases, including the lawsuit against credit reporting company Equifax after a massive data breach. He also defended the University of Virginia student who claimed she was the victim of a gang rape at a fraternity house and was featured in a 2014 Rolling Stone article that was later retracted. In the White House, he has forcefully defended Trump’s right to executive privilege and argued that congressional investigators have no right to question White House staffers about their conversations with the president.
Jay Sekulow
Well-known in conservative circles, Sekulow is one of the president’s personal lawyers, having represented him during special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election. The host of a radio and TV talk show, Sekulow has extensive media experience. He has argued before the Supreme Court on at least a dozen occasions, including landmark cases on religious liberty. As chief counsel at the American Center for Law and Justice, Sekulow has also represented Trump in his fight to prevent the release of his tax returns.
Alan Dershowitz
A constitutional law expert and former Harvard professor, Dershowitz was part of O.J. Simpson’s legal “dream team.” He voted for Democrat Hillary Clinton in 2016 but has nonetheless been a vocal public defender of Trump, writing a book titled “The Case Against Impeaching Trump.” Dershowitz said he will present oral arguments outlining the constitutional arguments against Trump’s impeachment to “defend the integrity of the Constitution and to prevent the creation of a dangerous constitutional precedent.” He said he would not be a full-fledged member of the Trump legal team. Dershowitz has defended a number of controversial clients including Jeffrey Epstein, the multimillionaire who killed himself in jail last summer while awaiting trial on charges that he sexually abused multiple underage girls. One of Epstein’s accusers has also accused Dershowitz of participating in her abuse. Dershowitz has vehemently denied the accusation.
Ken Starr
Best known for his 1990s role as the independent counsel who investigated President Bill Clinton, Starr became a household name with his report on Clinton’s extramarital relationship with White House intern Monica Lewinsky. That led to Clinton’s impeachment over 20 years ago. A former U.S. solicitor general and federal circuit court judge, Starr has been a regular guest on Fox News, defending Trump on his favored network. But he and Trump haven’t always been on the same page. “I think that Ken Starr is a lunatic. I really think that Ken Starr is a disaster,” Trump said in an interview with NBC’s “Today” in 1999. Starr was removed as president of Baylor University and then resigned as chancellor of the school in the wake of a review critical of the university’s handling of sexual assault allegations against football players. Starr was also involved in the representation of Epstein.
Robert Ray
A former federal prosecutor, Ray took over the Office of the Independent Counsel after Starr and is known for the lengthy report he wrote on the Clinton-Lewinsky affair. He now focuses on white-collar criminal defense matters and has appeared frequently on Fox News, defending the president.
Pam Bondi
The former attorney general of Florida and a longtime Trump supporter, Bondi joined the White House communications team late last year on a temporary basis to help shape the administration’s defense strategy. After stepping down from her Florida position in January, she worked as a lobbyist for Ballard Partners, representing clients including General Motors, the commissioner of Major League Baseball and a Christian anti-human-trafficking advocacy group. She also registered as a foreign agent for the government of Qatar and as a lobbyist for a Kuwaiti firm, according to Justice Department foreign agent filings and congressional lobbying documents.
Jane Raskin
The former federal attorney handled organized crime and racketeering cases and now has a legal practice with her husband in Florida. In the 1980s, she was a trial attorney with the Organized Crime and Racketeering Section’s Boston Strike Force, and her cases included the nine-month trial and conviction of the underboss of the New England Mafia. She also served as counsel to the assistant attorney general of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division in Washington and as first assistant U.S. attorney for the District of Massachusetts. She and her husband, Martin Raskin, later formed a law firm based in Coral Gables, Florida. The two worked with Sekulow and Rudy Giuliani during the Mueller investigation.
Eric D. Herschmann
He is a partner at Kasowitz Benson Torres LLP, a law firm that has represented Trump in numerous cases over the last 15 years. Herschmann served various roles at the Southern Union Company, a natural gas utility, including as senior executive vice president, president and chief operating officer. According to his law firm’s website, he aided in the sale of the company in 2012 for more than $10 billion. He also previously worked as a senior litigation counsel and as an assistant district attorney in the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office.
Mike Purpura
Purpura is the deputy White House counsel, and has been involved in efforts to fight congressional investigations into Trump. He previously served in the White House counsel’s office and the Justice Department under President George W. Bush, and was a federal prosecutor in New York City and Hawaii.
Pat Philbin
Deputy White House counsel Philbin served as a Justice Department official in the George W. Bush administration, where he worked on issues like the post-9/11 domestic surveillance program, and holding detainees at Guantanamo Bay. He was also a clerk for Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. Before he joined the Trump administration, he was a partner at a Washington law firm.


pbs--2020-01-20--What to expect from Trump's legal team and House managers during impeachment trial

A quiet Capitol .
Few TV cameras , most cell phones were present to capture the House impeachment managers walking to survey the Senate chamber this morning .
Meantime , movement from the White House as well .
The president 's legal team , led by White House counsel Pat Cipollone and the president 's personal lawyer Jay Sekulow , laid out its first official legal defense of the president .
In a 110-page legal brief sent to the Senate today , attorneys rejected the House articles of impeachment as — quote — `` flimsy '' and the product of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrats . ''
The brief has two key substantive defenses .
First , it argues the President Trump did n't condition security assistance or a president meeting on announcements of any investigations , as the articles of impeachment assert .
Second , that President Trump did n't commit obstruction by blocking testimony and documents , but , rather , was asserting his own legal rights and privileges .
The brief does n't deny the president tried to pressure Ukraine to open investigations into the 2016 election and former Vice President Joe Biden and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ White House argues that pressure was legal and legitimate .
The defense team was visible on Sunday talk shows , where several , including former Harvard Professor Alan Dershowitz , also argued that , wrong or not , the president 's actions were not impeachable .

Lisa Desjardins:
A quiet Capitol. Few TV cameras, most cell phones were present to capture the House impeachment managers walking to survey the Senate chamber this morning.
Meantime, movement from the White House as well. The president's legal team, led by White House counsel Pat Cipollone and the president's personal lawyer Jay Sekulow, laid out its first official legal defense of the president.
In a 110-page legal brief sent to the Senate today, attorneys rejected the House articles of impeachment as — quote — "flimsy" and the product of a "brazenly political act by House Democrats."
The brief has two key substantive defenses. First, it argues the President Trump didn't condition security assistance or a president meeting on announcements of any investigations, as the articles of impeachment assert.
Second, that President Trump didn't commit obstruction by blocking testimony and documents, but, rather, was asserting his own legal rights and privileges.
The brief doesn't deny the president tried to pressure Ukraine to open investigations into the 2016 election and former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter. Instead, the White House argues that pressure was legal and legitimate.
The defense team was visible on Sunday talk shows, where several, including former Harvard Professor Alan Dershowitz, also argued that, wrong or not, the president's actions were not impeachable.


pbs--2020-01-20--McConnell proposes swift impeachment trial for Trump

WASHINGTON ( AP ) — Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Monday proposed a condensed , two-day calendar for each side to give opening arguments in President Donald Trump ’ s impeachment trial , ground rules that are raising objections from Democrats on the eve of the landmark proceedings .
The Republican leader outlined the process in a four-page resolution that will be voted on as one of the first orders of business when senators convene Tuesday .
It also pushes off any votes on witnesses until later in the process , rather than up front , as Democrats demanded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arguments — two days per side — senators will be allowed up to 16 hours for questions to the prosecution and defense , followed by four hours of debate .
Only then will there be votes on calling other witnesses .
McConnell has been angling for a speedy trial toward acquittal of the charges against the president , and the closely held rules package arrived Monday after Trump ’ s legal team asserted in a legal brief that he did “ absolutely nothing wrong , ” urging the Senate to swiftly reject the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against him .
The brief from Trump ’ s lawyers , filed ahead of opening arguments , offers the most detailed look at the lines of defense they intend to use against Democratic efforts to convict the president and oust him from office over his dealings with Ukraine .
It is meant as a counter to a filing two days ago from House Democrats that summarized weeks of testimony from more than a dozen witnesses in laying out the impeachment case .
“ All of this is a dangerous perversion of the Constitution @ @ @ @ @ @ @ condemn , ” the lawyers wrote .
“ The articles should be rejected and the president should immediately be acquitted.
” The 110-page brief from the White House , plus the House Democratic response , come as the Senate is considering 12-hour opening sessions for the rare trial taking place in an election year , with some of the very senators running to replace Trump as president sitting as jurors .
The White House filing shifted the tone toward a more legal response but still echoed with campaign-style slogans .
It hinged on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrong and did not commit a crime — even though impeachment does not depend on a material violation of law but rather on the more vague definition of “ other high crimes and misdemeanors ” as established in the Constitution .
With security tightening at the Capitol , the House prosecutors made their way through crowds of tourists in the Rotunda to tour the Senate chamber .
The White House legal team led by Pat Cipollone and Jay Sekulow soon followed , both sides under instructions to keep the chamber doors closed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ monitors were set up inside to show testimony , exhibits and potentially tweets or other social media , according to a person familiar with the matter but unauthorized to discuss it who spoke on condition of anonymity .
Senators are poised for only the third trial of its kind in U.S. history , but first they must contend with a rules fight and whether to allow new witnesses .
On the eve of the trial , the Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell had yet to reveal the proposal .
The GOP leader is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opening arguments with two 12-hour days for each side , the person said.Democrats warned that such a plan would almost certainly push the proceedings into hours when Americans may not be watching .
The White House legal team said Monday it supports whatever package McConnell puts forward .
In their own filing Monday , House prosecutors replied to Trump ’ s not-guilty plea by making fresh demands for a fair trial in the Senate .
“ President Trump asserts that his impeachment is a partisan ‘ hoax.
’ He is wrong , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ led by Chairman Adam Schiff of the Intelligence Committee said the president can ’ t have it both ways — rejecting the facts of the House case but also stonewalling congressional subpoenas for witnesses and testimony .
“ Senators must honor their own oaths by holding a fair trial with all relevant evidence , ” they wrote .
The White House document released Monday says the two articles of impeachment brought against the president — abuse of power and obstruction of Congress — don ’ t amount to impeachable offenses .
It asserts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump ’ s request that Ukraine ’ s president open an investigation into Democratic rival Joe Biden , was never about finding the truth .
The impeachment case accuses Trump of abusing power by withholding military aid from Ukraine at the same time that he was seeking an investigation into Biden , and of obstructing Congress by instructing administration officials not to appear for testimony or provide documents , defying congressional subpoenas .
In a brief filed earlier , House Democrats called Trump ’ s conduct the “ worst nightmare ” of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Donald J. Trump used his official powers to pressure a foreign government to interfere in a United States election for his personal political gain , ” the House prosecutors wrote , “ and then attempted to cover up his scheme by obstructing Congress ’ s investigation into his misconduct.
” But Trump ’ s team contended Monday that even if Trump were to have abused his power in withholding the Ukraine military assistance , it would not be impeachable because it did not violate a specific criminal statute .
The president ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Department ’ s Office of Legal Counsel to back up its claims and support its position that it had not illegally defied Congress .
One OLC opinion said the House investigation was not formally opened until after some subpoenas were issued , making the demands legally unenforceable , while two others said that senior advisers of the president were immune from being forced to testify in part because they handled national security matters .
Opening arguments are expected within days following a debate Tuesday over rules , including about whether witnesses are to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ signaled his opposition to witnesses , tweeting Monday : “ They didn ’ t want John Bolton and others in the House .
They were in too much of a rush .
Now they want them all in the Senate .
Not supposed to be that way !
” That ’ s a reference to former national security adviser John Bolton .
House Democrats wanted him to testify but chose not to pursue a subpoena and risk an extended struggle in court .
But Bolton has since said he is willing to testify @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democratic leader Chuck Schumer has outlined demands for documents and testimony , including from Bolton , and promised to put senators on the spot with votes to ensure they are called .
“ We are going to demand votes – yes or no , up or down – on the four witnesses we ’ ve requested and on the three sets of documents we ’ ve requested , ” Schumer told reporters over the weekend .
The White House brief argues that the articles of impeachment passed by the House are “ structurally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , creating “ a menu of options ” as possible grounds for conviction .
While the Senate , with a 53-47 Republican majority is not at all expected to mount the two-thirds voted needed for conviction , the president ’ s lawyers go so far as to suggest such an outcome would be an “ unconstitutional conviction ” because of the overly broad articles of impeachment from the House .
The Trump team claims that the Constitution requires that senators agree “ on the specific basis for conviction ” and that there is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agree on which acts are worthy of removal , because a single count contains multiple allegations .
Administration officials have argued that similar imprecision applied to the perjury case in the impeachment trial of President Bill Clinton , who was acquitted by the Senate .
The Trump lawyers accused Democrats of diluting the standards for impeachment , an argument that echoed the case made Sunday by one of Trump ’ s attorneys , Alan Dershowitz , who contended in talk shows that impeachable offenses must be “ criminal-like conduct.
” That assertion has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ called it an “ absurdist position.
” The White House also suggests the House inquiry was lacking because it failed to investigate Biden or his son Hunter , who served on the board of a gas company in Ukraine while his father was vice president .
There is no evidence of wrongdoing by either Biden .
Associated Press writer Laurie Kellman contributed to this report .

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Monday proposed a condensed, two-day calendar for each side to give opening arguments in President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial, ground rules that are raising objections from Democrats on the eve of the landmark proceedings.
The Republican leader outlined the process in a four-page resolution that will be voted on as one of the first orders of business when senators convene Tuesday. It also pushes off any votes on witnesses until later in the process, rather than up front, as Democrats demanded.
After the four days of opening arguments — two days per side — senators will be allowed up to 16 hours for questions to the prosecution and defense, followed by four hours of debate. Only then will there be votes on calling other witnesses.
WATCH LIVE: Trump’s impeachment trial in the Senate
McConnell has been angling for a speedy trial toward acquittal of the charges against the president, and the closely held rules package arrived Monday after Trump’s legal team asserted in a legal brief that he did “absolutely nothing wrong,” urging the Senate to swiftly reject the “flimsy” and rigged impeachment case against him.
The brief from Trump’s lawyers, filed ahead of opening arguments, offers the most detailed look at the lines of defense they intend to use against Democratic efforts to convict the president and oust him from office over his dealings with Ukraine. It is meant as a counter to a filing two days ago from House Democrats that summarized weeks of testimony from more than a dozen witnesses in laying out the impeachment case.
Senators are poised for only the third trial of its kind in U.S. history, but first they must contend with a rules fight and whether to allow new witnesses.
“All of this is a dangerous perversion of the Constitution that the Senate should swiftly and roundly condemn,” the lawyers wrote. “The articles should be rejected and the president should immediately be acquitted.”
The 110-page brief from the White House, plus the House Democratic response, come as the Senate is considering 12-hour opening sessions for the rare trial taking place in an election year, with some of the very senators running to replace Trump as president sitting as jurors.
The White House filing shifted the tone toward a more legal response but still echoed with campaign-style slogans. It hinged on Trump’s assertion he did nothing wrong and did not commit a crime — even though impeachment does not depend on a material violation of law but rather on the more vague definition of “other high crimes and misdemeanors” as established in the Constitution.
With security tightening at the Capitol, the House prosecutors made their way through crowds of tourists in the Rotunda to tour the Senate chamber. The White House legal team led by Pat Cipollone and Jay Sekulow soon followed, both sides under instructions to keep the chamber doors closed to onlookers and the media. Four TV monitors were set up inside to show testimony, exhibits and potentially tweets or other social media, according to a person familiar with the matter but unauthorized to discuss it who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Senators are poised for only the third trial of its kind in U.S. history, but first they must contend with a rules fight and whether to allow new witnesses. On the eve of the trial, the Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell had yet to reveal the proposal.
The GOP leader is expected to propose a condensed schedule for opening arguments with two 12-hour days for each side, the person said.Democrats warned that such a plan would almost certainly push the proceedings into hours when Americans may not be watching. The White House legal team said Monday it supports whatever package McConnell puts forward.
In their own filing Monday, House prosecutors replied to Trump’s not-guilty plea by making fresh demands for a fair trial in the Senate.
“President Trump asserts that his impeachment is a partisan ‘hoax.’ He is wrong,” the prosecutors wrote.
The House Democrats led by Chairman Adam Schiff of the Intelligence Committee said the president can’t have it both ways — rejecting the facts of the House case but also stonewalling congressional subpoenas for witnesses and testimony. “Senators must honor their own oaths by holding a fair trial with all relevant evidence,” they wrote.
The White House document released Monday says the two articles of impeachment brought against the president — abuse of power and obstruction of Congress — don’t amount to impeachable offenses. It asserts that the impeachment inquiry, centered on Trump’s request that Ukraine’s president open an investigation into Democratic rival Joe Biden, was never about finding the truth.
The impeachment case accuses Trump of abusing power by withholding military aid from Ukraine at the same time that he was seeking an investigation into Biden, and of obstructing Congress by instructing administration officials not to appear for testimony or provide documents, defying congressional subpoenas.
In a brief filed earlier, House Democrats called Trump’s conduct the “worst nightmare” of the framers of the Constitution.
“President Donald J. Trump used his official powers to pressure a foreign government to interfere in a United States election for his personal political gain,” the House prosecutors wrote, “and then attempted to cover up his scheme by obstructing Congress’s investigation into his misconduct.”
But Trump’s team contended Monday that even if Trump were to have abused his power in withholding the Ukraine military assistance, it would not be impeachable because it did not violate a specific criminal statute.
The president’s team issued several opinions from the Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel to back up its claims and support its position that it had not illegally defied Congress.
One OLC opinion said the House investigation was not formally opened until after some subpoenas were issued, making the demands legally unenforceable, while two others said that senior advisers of the president were immune from being forced to testify in part because they handled national security matters.
Opening arguments are expected within days following a debate Tuesday over rules, including about whether witnesses are to be called in the trial.
Trump signaled his opposition to witnesses, tweeting Monday: “They didn’t want John Bolton and others in the House. They were in too much of a rush. Now they want them all in the Senate. Not supposed to be that way!”
That’s a reference to former national security adviser John Bolton. House Democrats wanted him to testify but chose not to pursue a subpoena and risk an extended struggle in court. But Bolton has since said he is willing to testify in the Senate if subpoenaed.
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer has outlined demands for documents and testimony, including from Bolton, and promised to put senators on the spot with votes to ensure they are called.
“We are going to demand votes – yes or no, up or down – on the four witnesses we’ve requested and on the three sets of documents we’ve requested,” Schumer told reporters over the weekend.
The White House brief argues that the articles of impeachment passed by the House are “structurally deficient” because they charge multiple acts, creating “a menu of options” as possible grounds for conviction.
While the Senate, with a 53-47 Republican majority is not at all expected to mount the two-thirds voted needed for conviction, the president’s lawyers go so far as to suggest such an outcome would be an “unconstitutional conviction” because of the overly broad articles of impeachment from the House.
The Trump team claims that the Constitution requires that senators agree “on the specific basis for conviction” and that there is no way to ensure that the senators agree on which acts are worthy of removal, because a single count contains multiple allegations.
Administration officials have argued that similar imprecision applied to the perjury case in the impeachment trial of President Bill Clinton, who was acquitted by the Senate.
The Trump lawyers accused Democrats of diluting the standards for impeachment, an argument that echoed the case made Sunday by one of Trump’s attorneys, Alan Dershowitz, who contended in talk shows that impeachable offenses must be “criminal-like conduct.”
That assertion has been rejected by scholars, and Schiff called it an “absurdist position.”
The White House also suggests the House inquiry was lacking because it failed to investigate Biden or his son Hunter, who served on the board of a gas company in Ukraine while his father was vice president. There is no evidence of wrongdoing by either Biden.
Associated Press writer Laurie Kellman contributed to this report.