rollcall--2020-01-16--Do chatty senators really face jail time during impeachment?

Former Oregon Sen. Bob Packwood was arrested in 1988 after barricading himself inside his office , locking one door and blocking another with a chair in an attempt to prevent a quorum so that Republicans could stall debate on campaign finance legislation .
The sergeant-at-arms escorted Packwood to the Senate chamber , and he was physically carried onto the floor .
( Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call file photo ) Despite a dramatic daily warning , if senators fail to stay silent during President Donald Trump ’ s impeachment trial , it ’ s unlikely that they ’ ll end up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not a Senate jail .
At the beginning of each trial day , Sergeant-at-Arms Michael Stenger will declare , “ Hear ye !
Hear ye !
Hear ye !
All persons are commanded to keep silent , on pain of imprisonment.
” But that warning might be overblown .
Any rowdy conduct won ’ t send any senators straight to the clinker .
Raucous behavior would first be met by a gaveling down by the presiding officer , Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. Roberts would then ask the senator to take a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the presiding officer could make a ruling that the sergeant-at-arms would carry out if necessary .
[ Just where is this secret House jail located ? ]
Decorum guidelines are outlined in Rule 19 of the Senate rules and allow the senator to make an appeal of the ruling .
On paper , the rules appear straightforward .
But no Senate has ever been forced to actually imprison one of its members .
In the past , the Senate has preferred to expel the senator from office , rather than send him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not to deprive a state of its full representation .
Such confrontations have occurred so infrequently in the Senate ’ s history that ambiguity is more readily available than specifics .
No senator has ever been imprisoned by Senate officials , but in the past , the threat of arrest and jail has silenced even the most agitated senators .
In 1863 , Delaware Sen. Willard Saulsbury Sr. , a Democrat , called President Abraham Lincoln “ a weak and imbecile man ” on the Senate floor and was ordered to take his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Hannibal Hamlin .
Saulsbury resisted , and Hamlin instructed the sergeant-at-arms to arrest Saulsbury .
“ Let him do it at his own expense , ” Saulsbury said , drawing a pistol and threatening to shoot the sergeant-at-arms .
Days later , a more sober Saulsbury , facing a resolution of expulsion , apologized and the Senate dropped the matter , according to the Senate Historical Office .
In the coming days and weeks , senators are expected to sit through hours of presentations by House managers in the Senate chamber without @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more recent times , but still predating even the Clinton impeachment , senators have acted improperly and forced the sergeant-at-arms to make an arrest .
In 1988 , Oregon Republican Sen. Bob Packwood barricaded himself inside his office , locking one door and blocking another with a chair .
He was attempting to prevent a quorum so that Republicans could stall debate on campaign finance legislation .
But the sergeant-at-arms arrested Packwood and escorted him to the Senate chamber .
He was physically carried onto the floor .
But such arrests , like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kenneth McKellar in 1942 when he was needed for a quorum , did not occur during impeachment trials .
Historically , senators have recognized their solemn duty in past impeachment trials of federal judges and presidents .
The only known arrest and jailing during a Senate impeachment trial occurred during the trial of Judge Walter Nixon , when an uncooperative witness was tried in U.S. District Court .
During the impeachment of President Andrew Johnson , the sergeant-at-arms ordered the galleries cleared as the crowd erupted in shouting and applause when Johnson was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also been jailed .
In 1848 , someone leaked the contents of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo to the New York Herald ’ s John Nugent .
The reporter was confined to a committee room for nearly a month and filed his stories with the dateline “ Custody of the Sergeant-at-Arms , ” according to the Senate Historical Office .
After a month of confinement , during which Nugent dined with the sergeant-at-arms every night , he was released .
Despite persistent rumors , there is no Senate jail .
In contempt of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ used the sergeant-at-arms ’ office , committee space or even a local hotel room for short-term “ imprisonment .
”

Despite a dramatic daily warning, if senators fail to stay silent during President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial, it’s unlikely that they’ll end up arrested. And no, there is not a Senate jail.
At the beginning of each trial day, Sergeant-at-Arms Michael Stenger will declare, “Hear ye! Hear ye! Hear ye! All persons are commanded to keep silent, on pain of imprisonment.”
But that warning might be overblown. Any rowdy conduct won’t send any senators straight to the clinker. Raucous behavior would first be met by a gaveling down by the presiding officer, Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. Roberts would then ask the senator to take a seat, and if the senator objected, the presiding officer could make a ruling that the sergeant-at-arms would carry out if necessary.
[Just where is this secret House jail located?]
Decorum guidelines are outlined in Rule 19 of the Senate rules and allow the senator to make an appeal of the ruling. On paper, the rules appear straightforward. But no Senate has ever been forced to actually imprison one of its members.


rollcall--2020-01-16--Pelosi: Facebook’s behavior is ‘shameful’

Responding to comments from 2020 Democratic hopeful Pete Buttigieg saying Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has too much power , Speaker @ @ @ @ @ media company ’ s behavior “ shameful.
” “ I think they have been very @ @ @ @ @ that technology has given them , ” Pelosi told reporters at a news briefing Thursday @

Responding to comments from 2020 Democratic hopeful Pete Buttigieg saying Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has too much power, Speaker Nancy Pelosi called the social media company’s behavior “shameful.”
“I think they have been very abusive of the great opportunity that technology has given them,” Pelosi told reporters at a news briefing Thursday.


rollcall--2020-01-16--House Democrats push through measure to nullify Trump student loan rule

Rep. Susie Lee , D-Nev. , is the sponsor of the Democratic measure to overturn the Trump administration 's revamp of the Obama-era student borrower debt forgiveness rule .
( Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call file photo ) The House on Thursday passed mostly along party lines a measure that would overturn a Trump administration rule rolling back protections for student loan borrowers , but the margin was well short of being veto-proof .
The joint resolution passed 231-180 with six Republicans joining 225 Democrats in favor .
It now heads to the Republican-led Senate but must wait until after the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House ’ s action marks the first time in the 116th Congress that lawmakers have sought to overturn a Trump administration regulation via passage of a resolution under the Congressional Review Act .
The law allows Congress to overturn regulatory actions of federal agencies with a simple majority vote in both chambers , but subject to a presidential veto .
Democrats in the Senate can force a vote , and Minority Whip Richard J. Durbin , D-Ill. , is leading the effort in the chamber to get the resolution cleared .
“ The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ‘ You ’ ve been defrauded , now step up .
The law is there to protect you , ’ ” Durbin said a press conference after the vote .
Referring to Education Secretary Betsy DeVos , Durbin added , “ She said to these students , ‘ Lawyer up .
You ’ re going to have to fight this .
Individually .
Every single one of you has got a burden of proof here.
’ ” “ By passing this resolution , the House made it clear that we care more about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Rep. Susie Lee , D-Nev. , who sponsored the House resolution , said at the press conference .
“ We told Betsy Devos that we ’ re not going to sit on the sidelines while these institutions scam our families , our friends , our neighbors and our veterans while they ’ re trying to get an education.
” The Education Department rule in question sets a tougher standard for eliminating student debt when students argue they were defrauded by a university .
The rule would require defrauded borrowers to demonstrate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fraud in order to have their debt partially or completely canceled , and it would allow for mandatory arbitration agreements related to such claims and require borrowers to file claims within three years of leaving an institution .
The rule is set to take effect on July 1 .
Republicans argue it effectively counters a 2016 Obama administration rule putting original protections in place that they see as overreaching and costly to taxpayers .
“ The 2016 Obama regulation created more chaos than clarity and set massive loan forgiveness as a goal , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rep. Virginia Foxx , R-N.C. , the ranking member of the House Education and Labor Committee , said at a House Rules Committee meeting Monday .

The House on Thursday passed mostly along party lines a measure that would overturn a Trump administration rule rolling back protections for student loan borrowers, but the margin was well short of being veto-proof.
The joint resolution passed 231-180 with six Republicans joining 225 Democrats in favor. It now heads to the Republican-led Senate but must wait until after the presidential impeachment trial.
Still, the House’s action marks the first time in the 116th Congress that lawmakers have sought to overturn a Trump administration regulation via passage of a resolution under the Congressional Review Act.
The law allows Congress to overturn regulatory actions of federal agencies with a simple majority vote in both chambers, but subject to a presidential veto. Democrats in the Senate can force a vote, and Minority Whip Richard J. Durbin, D-Ill., is leading the effort in the chamber to get the resolution cleared.
“The Obama administration said to these students, ‘You’ve been defrauded, now step up. The law is there to protect you,’ ” Durbin said a press conference after the vote. Referring to Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, Durbin added, “She said to these students, ‘Lawyer up. You’re going to have to fight this. Individually. Every single one of you has got a burden of proof here.’ ”


rollcall--2020-01-16--At the Races: Managing impeachment (and the spotlight)

Welcome to At the Races !
Each week we ’ ll bring you news and analysis from the CQ Roll Call team that will keep you informed about the 2020 election .
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Speaker Nancy Pelosi named impeachment managers yesterday , and the House sent the articles of impeachment to the Senate .
Unsurprisingly , none of the seven impeachment managers are in a competitive race — Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales rates them all Solid Democratic .
Vulnerable House Democrats want to focus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their campaigns ( read : not impeachment ) .
The group of managers does include one freshman in the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee ’ s Frontline program for vulnerable members : Colorado ’ s Jason Crow .
The Army veteran ’ s district had been trending blue before he unseated Republican Mike Coffman in 2018 .
So it remains to be seen how aggressively Republicans will target Crow , given that there are more vulnerable Democrats running in more GOP-leaning districts .
And while the impeachment managers will be in the spotlight , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a trial moves forward .
For a refresher on who those senators are , check out our 10 Most Vulnerable list .
Last chance : For the three senators running for president , Tuesday ’ s debate in Iowa — just three weeks ahead of the Feb. 3 caucuses — was extra important because it was likely their last big event in the state before the Senate impeachment trial that will keep them in Washington .
No senator had more riding on the debate than Minnesota ’ s Amy Klobuchar , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some swipes at her more progressive opponents .
But the tension between Massachusetts ’ Elizabeth Warren and Vermont ’ s Bernie Sanders over gender and electability stole the night .
Colorado ’ s Michael Bennet , the only other senator left in the race after New Jersey ’ s Cory Booker dropped out Monday , did not qualify for the debate .
For more on the debate dynamics , check out the latest Political Theater podcast featuring CQ Roll Call politics editor Herb Jackson .
Make it 45 : The Democratic Congressional Campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its 2020 target list as it tries to expand the battlefield farther into GOP-held territory .
Just super : It ’ s been 10 years since the Supreme Court ’ s Citizens United decision opened the floodgates for money in campaigns .
And even though Democrats have sharply criticized the decision , they ’ ve also benefited from it , CQ Roll Call ’ s Kate Ackley reports as part of her deep dive into the role of super PACs in the last decade .
Amash pit : A handful of Republicans — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Michigan Rep. Justin Amash — are competing to replace the now-independent lawmaker and help the party regain a seat that has long been safely in its column .
It ’ s mostly become a three-way race that will test the party ’ s appetite for electing either a young military veteran from a wealthy local family , a female state legislator or a self-proclaimed Trump loyalist .
Jersey justice : New Jersey public officials ensnared in the 2013 Bridgegate scandal came to the Supreme Court on Tuesday to argue that they were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s not a crime .
If the court agrees with them , it could further limit the scope of federal public corruption statutes that apply to officeholders at every level .
Remember him ?
: West Virginia ’ s Richard Ojeda is back , this time running to take on GOP Sen. Shelley Moore Capito .
The retired Army major first gained national attention when he ran for the state Senate in 2016 as a Trump-supporting Democrat ( not an unusual thing in West Virginia ) .
By 2018 , he ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the open 3rd District , but lost by 13 points when the GOP effectively nationalized the race .
( Revisit this July 2018 dispatch from his hometown of Logan for more on how national politicos started taking his unconventional campaign seriously . )
Challenging Capito won ’ t be easy — it ’ s a Solid Republican race — but the state as a whole actually voted for Trump by a smaller margin ( 42 points ) than the southern coal-mining district Ojeda lost in 2018 ( 49 points . )
Every Rose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rep. Max Rose became the first member of Congress this week to endorse former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg .
Bloomberg donated to Rose ’ s 2018 GOP opponent , but Rose doesn ’ t appear to have a problem with that .
It ’ s on in AZ : It ’ s probably an understatement to say that the Arizona Senate race is going to be expensive .
GOP Sen. Martha McSally had her best quarter of 2019 , raising $ 4 million in the last three months of the year .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ million total for the year as higher than any other senator ’ s . )
But her likely Democratic opponent , Mark Kelly , outraised her for the fourth quarter in a row , bringing in $ 6 million from October through December and $ 20 million total in 2019 .
He also has a cash-on-hand advantage , ending 2019 with $ 13.6 million in the bank to McSally ’ s $ 7.6 million .
Speaking of fundraising : Vulnerable House Democrats have continued to report big fundraising numbers for the fourth quarter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But one of the most striking was New York Rep. Anthony Brindisi ’ s .
He doubled his fundraising from the previous quarter , bringing in $ 900,000 , according to Syracuse.com .
New caucus : CQ Roll Call ’ s Kate Ackley reports that a group of freshman House Democrats , some facing tight races this November , launched a new “ End Corruption ” caucus Thursday .
Rose , whose race is rated a Toss-up by Inside Elections , and Katie Porter of California will lead the effort .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new proposals and gin up support for legislation aimed at curbing the influence of corporate lobbyists — a regular message on the 2020 campaign trail .
Mark your calendars : The special election to replace New York GOP Rep. Chris Collins , who resigned amid insider trading charges , is likely to take place on April 28 , according to The Buffalo News .
That ’ s the same day as the state ’ s presidential primary , so higher Democratic turnout for the presidential race could help Democrats there .
But they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 27th District , which Trump carried by the widest margin in the state .
Getting awkward : Members of Congress are taking sides in the Massachusetts Senate Democratic primary , with Georgia Rep. John Lewis and a handful of other House Democrats backing Rep. Joseph P. Kennedy III against the sitting senator , Edward J. Markey , who has the support of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer .
Not just Russia : China , Iran , North Korea , and other nonstate “ hacktivists ” are likely targeting U.S. elections , and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” a senior intelligence official said Wednesday , according to CQ Roll Call ’ s Gopal Ratnam .
Beehive buzz : Thom Carter , the director of the Utah Clean Air Partnership , told the Deseret News that national Republicans are recruiting him to run for the state ’ s 4th District , a prime GOP target .
He would enter a crowded primary , but high-profile Republicans , including former Rep. Mia Love , have expressed doubts that anyone in the race could defeat Democratic incumbent Ben McAdams after national Republicans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Whip Dan Hemmert , unexpectedly backed out in December .
Hyde your ambassadors !
We hadn ’ t heard of Robert F. Hyde before this week .
The Republican is running for Connecticut ’ s 5th District , a safe Democratic seat , and hasn ’ t reported raising any money to the FEC .
But he became a national name this week when the House Intelligence Committee released text messages he exchanged with Lev Parnas , an associate of Rudy Giuliani , about tracking Marie Yovanovitch , the former U.S. ambassador to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t believe Trumo [ sic ] hasn ’ t fired this bitch , ” Hyde wrote in one message .
He has a history of inappropriate remarks — he tweeted much worse about California Sen. Kamala Harris — and Connecticut Republicans have condemned him .
He ’ s a strong Trump supporter , but police had to remove him from Trump National Doral in Florida .
The Hartford Courant and The Intercept have much more about this bizarre figure , whom the chairman of the Connecticut GOP asked to end his campaign Wednesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ didn ’ t know Tom Steyer before Tuesday ’ s debate , you probably do now .
Stu Rothenberg digs into Steyer ’ s standing in recent polls that landed him a spot on the debate stage .
AOC vs. DCCC : HuffPost has a report on Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ’ s new leadership PAC , which is supporting liberal candidates , including primary challengers .
Her PAC , pitched as an alternative to the DCCC , is called Courage to Change ( seems like a missed opportunity to name it AO-CCC ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can make contributions to other candidates ' campaigns , it can not make the kinds of independent expenditures that make the DCCC powerful .
Late entry : The Miami Herald previewed Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Giménez ’ anticipated announcement of a run for Florida ’ s 26th District .
Giménez has been recruited by national Republicans and has a record as a prolific fundraiser , but he would enter a primary well underway with Omar Blanco , the former head of the Miami-Dade County firefighters union , and Irina Vilariño , co-owner of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , already vying to take on freshman Democrat Debbie Mucarsel-Powell in this GOP-targeted district .
Former Vice President Joe Biden leads the field in congressional endorsements with 36 members backing him in the presidential primary .
This week he added three to his list : Texas Rep. Colin Allred , New York Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney and New Jersey Rep. Tom Malinowski .
All three had previously backed candidates who have since dropped out , and they all could face competitive reelection races ( and they ’ re not the only potentially vulnerable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ got his first congressional endorsement this week ( from Rep. Max Rose , see above ) .
Sen. Elizabeth Warren picked up an endorsement from Texas Rep. Joaquin Castro , who had previously endorsed his brother .
Former South Bend , Indiana , Mayor Pete Buttigieg got some early state endorsements from Iowa Rep. Dave Loebsack and New Hampshire Rep. Ann McLane Kuster .
And Wisconsin Rep. Mark Pocan , who co-chairs the Progressive Caucus , endorsed Sen. Bernie Sanders on Thursday .
Republicans are counting on Trump to boost their down-ballot candidates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not be the savior GOP operatives are making him out to be , Nathan writes .
Using Inside Elections ’ Vote Above Replacement metric , Nathan explains how Trump actually underperformed typical Republicans in two of the states he ’ s credited with flipping in 2016 .
House Republican Conference Chairwoman Liz Cheney announced Thursday that she is not running for Senate in Wyoming to replace retiring GOP Sen. Michael B. Enzi .
That means former GOP Rep. Cynthia Lummis may not get a “ barn-burner ” of a primary after all .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in July and predicted a competitive race if Cheney ran as well .
But more GOP candidates , including megadonor Foster Friess , could still jump into the contest .
Lummis is a self-described constitutional conservative and told CQ Roll Call recently that she is an ardent supporter of Trump .
( She did originally endorse Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul for president . )
Lummis interviewed twice to be Trump ’ s Interior Secretary but did not ultimately get the job .
Illinois Democrat Bobby Rush , 73 , has won landslide victories @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he was first elected in 1992 — including a 2000 primary challenge from a young upstart named Barack Obama .
He is also a legend in the Chicago area , where he was a civil rights leader in the 1960s and founded the state ’ s Black Panther chapter .
“ Taking on Bobby Rush among black voters is like running into a buzz saw , ” pollster Ron Lester , who worked for Obama , once told The New York Times .
That hasn ’ t stopped three Democratic challengers from entering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ heavily Democratic 1st District .
The contenders have youth on their side — the slate includes a 27-year-old gun control activist and a graduate student at the University of Chicago .
The contenders are no doubt encouraged by Rush ’ s age and the ethical cloud that has hung over him since 2014 , when the House Ethics Committee started looking into his use of an office he had occupied , rent-free , since he was an alderman on the City Council in 1989 .
The primary , with its inevitable comparisons to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ politics , has attracted some curiosity from national media and progressive groups .
Robert Emmons Jr. , the gun control activist , has scored endorsements from the progressive groups People for Bernie and Brand New Congress , which is affiliated with Ocasio-Cortez .
Sarah Gad , a third-year law student , has attracted support from social justice advocates for her background as a former convict .
Gad delved into her opioid addiction and related felony convictions in a piece for Marie Claire magazine and an attention-grabbing campaign video .
But as of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 30 , no one had the kind of money that would make Rush nervous .
Emmons had raised $ 52,000 and spent $ 37,000 , ending the quarter with $ 15,000 in the bank .
Gad , the only other primary challenger to have raised money at that point , had spent all but $ 840 of the $ 24,000 she had raised .
Rush raised $ 146,000 and spent $ 134,000 , ending the quarter with $ 83,000on hand .
For next week , let us know if you ’ d like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ race or the South Carolina Senate race .
Email us at attheraces @ cqrollcall.com .
The Senate impeachment trial starts next week , so stay tuned to CQ Roll Call ’ s ongoing coverage , especially with our daily impeachment tracker .
Subscribe now using this link so you don ’ t miss out on the best news and analysis from our team , plus key stories and data that will keep you informed about 2020 races .

Last chance: For the three senators running for president, Tuesday’s debate in Iowa — just three weeks ahead of the Feb. 3 caucuses — was extra important because it was likely their last big event in the state before the Senate impeachment trial that will keep them in Washington. No senator had more riding on the debate than Minnesota’s Amy Klobuchar, who repeated her pitch about electability and took some swipes at her more progressive opponents. But the tension between Massachusetts’ Elizabeth Warren and Vermont’s Bernie Sanders over gender and electability stole the night. Colorado’s Michael Bennet, the only other senator left in the race after New Jersey’s Cory Booker dropped out Monday, did not qualify for the debate. For more on the debate dynamics, check out the latest Political Theater podcast featuring CQ Roll Call politics editor Herb Jackson.
Make it 45: The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has added six new seats to its 2020 target list as it tries to expand the battlefield farther into GOP-held territory.
Just super: It’s been 10 years since the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision opened the floodgates for money in campaigns. And even though Democrats have sharply criticized the decision, they’ve also benefited from it, CQ Roll Call’s Kate Ackley reports as part of her deep dive into the role of super PACs in the last decade.
Amash pit: A handful of Republicans — including those who previously supported or donated to Michigan Rep. Justin Amash — are competing to replace the now-independent lawmaker and help the party regain a seat that has long been safely in its column. It’s mostly become a three-way race that will test the party’s appetite for electing either a young military veteran from a wealthy local family, a female state legislator or a self-proclaimed Trump loyalist.
Jersey justice: New Jersey public officials ensnared in the 2013 Bridgegate scandal came to the Supreme Court on Tuesday to argue that they were guilty of bare-knuckle politics, but that’s not a crime. If the court agrees with them, it could further limit the scope of federal public corruption statutes that apply to officeholders at every level.


rollcall--2020-01-16--Lack of official guidance on impeachment press restrictions causes confusion

Capitol Police are enforcing new press restrictions in the Capitol although there is a lack of clarity about just what they are .
( Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call ) The absence of any written guidance regarding media restrictions and conflicting information from Capitol Police and the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms staff have created an atmosphere of frustration and arbitrary enforcement as Senate action on impeachment began Thursday .
Some senators heading to their final legislative vote before impeachment proceedings began were armed with a notecard printed with a script of phrases to use to fend off members of the media , including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” “ please excuse me , I am trying to get to the Senate floor , ” and “ please excuse me , I need to get to a hearing/meeting.
” Senators are already experts in deciding when to chat with reporters and when to walk on by , because they do so every day the Senate is in session .
They don ’ t need talking points to employ some of their favorite avoidance tactics , including fake phone calls and engaging in conversation with one another , which reporters rarely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The cards , which bear the title “ PHRASES TO USE WHEN SEEKING ASSISTANCE , ” are similar to guidance issued to senators to help them navigate throngs of protestors that descended on Capitol Hill during the confirmation of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh .
Crowds of anti-Kavanaugh protesters were physically blocking senators from entering and exiting elevators and offices and resulted in daily media crackdowns — even though none of the protesters were credentialed media .
Justin Goodman , spokesperson for Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer , made clear that the cards @ @ @ @ @ @ @ office .
“ TO BE CLEAR : I have never seen this and our office has not handed this out to Democratic Senators , ” he tweeted in response to photos circulating among reporters about the cards .
Republican staffers pushed back against the idea that the cards were aimed at interactions with media .
“ This represents longstanding best practices from @ SenateSAA & @ CapitolPolice for safely de-escalating confrontations with *protesters* and it ’ s provided to Hill staff routinely , ” tweeted Liz Johnson , communications director for Sen. Mitt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , R-Kan. , was chatting with a reporter outside the Senate Republicans ’ lunch when a Capitol Police officer approached and told them they had to stop talking .
Jordain Carney , a reporter for The Hill newspaper , tweeted the scene .
No written guidance has been issued by the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms , which runs the press galleries and handles security in coordination with Capitol Police .
Getting the latest guidance is like a game of telephone as reporters pass along to their colleagues and competitors what they ’ ve heard most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was told that no liquids , including coffee or water bottles , were allowed on the second floor of the Senate .
When asked about that rule , Capitol Police officers stationed there and in the basement could not confirm that restriction .
The heightened security posture on Capitol Hill includes special separate credentials to access the Senate , in addition to the traditional hard pass worn by staffers and press .
In the Senate basement , where the Senate subway deposits senators at the Capitol for votes , has long been a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their way to the chamber .
It was a hotbed of confusion even before any impeachment action began on Thursday .
At some points there were more Capitol Police officers than reporters or lawmakers on hand in the basement , and reporters were told conflicting information about where they could and could not talk to senators .
Guidance offered to reporters about restrictions for interacting with senators changed more than three times in under an hour .
Reporters were told they could “ walk and talk ” in the basement but could not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as they normally can .
That was changed to include that if a senator consented to media sticking with them up the stairs , they could .
Before long that was rescinded and the no-follow rule was back in its original form .
On the second floor of the Senate , where the chamber is , inconsistency frustrated reporters .
Some reporters were not permitted to exit the press pen set up outside the chamber .
Press gallery staff , employed by the Sergeant-at-Arms and tasked with facilitating press coverage of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not allowed out of the pen , while some reporters were allowed to exit and question senators freely .

The absence of any written guidance regarding media restrictions and conflicting information from Capitol Police and the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms staff have created an atmosphere of frustration and arbitrary enforcement as Senate action on impeachment began Thursday.
Some senators heading to their final legislative vote before impeachment proceedings began were armed with a notecard printed with a script of phrases to use to fend off members of the media, including “please move out of my way,” “please excuse me, I am trying to get to the Senate floor,” and “please excuse me, I need to get to a hearing/meeting.”
Senators are already experts in deciding when to chat with reporters and when to walk on by, because they do so every day the Senate is in session. They don’t need talking points to employ some of their favorite avoidance tactics, including fake phone calls and engaging in conversation with one another, which reporters rarely attempt to break up with questioning.
The cards, which bear the title “PHRASES TO USE WHEN SEEKING ASSISTANCE,” are similar to guidance issued to senators to help them navigate throngs of protestors that descended on Capitol Hill during the confirmation of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh. Crowds of anti-Kavanaugh protesters were physically blocking senators from entering and exiting elevators and offices and resulted in daily media crackdowns — even though none of the protesters were credentialed media.
Justin Goodman, spokesperson for Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer, made clear that the cards were not issued by Schumer’s office.


rollcall--2020-01-16--Capitol Ink | Virtual Reality

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rollcall--2020-01-16--Democrats try to expand House battlefield by targeting six more districts

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is adding six new targets to its 2020 battlefield , hoping to flip more Republican-held seats while protecting its House majority .
Having made historic gains in the 2018 midterms , Democrats started the year on defense .
Republicans need a net gain of 18 seats to retake the House , and their first targets will be the 30 districts President Donald Trump won in 2016 that are currently represented by Democrats .
The DCCC unveiled its initial 33 targets in January 2019 and added six more in August .
The target list now includes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think they ’ ll have the resources and the political momentum to go on offense .
( Putting a district on the target list does not necessarily mean the committee will spend there later this year . )
[ The 10 most vulnerable House members in 2020 : Democrats dominate ] “ Our record fundraising gives us the ability to push deeper into Republican territory and hold Republicans accountable for their attacks on working families ’ health care , ” DCCC Chairwoman Cheri Bustos said in a statement .
The DCCC announced it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its best-ever haul for an off year .
Many freshman Democrats have reported raising large amounts in the recently ended fourth quarter of 2019 , which could free up the committee to play in other races .
The new targets are in Alaska , California , Kansas , North Carolina and Texas .
Despite the politically controversial impeachment trial getting underway in Washington this week , Democrats are confident that their focus on kitchen table issues , especially prescription drug costs , will help them .
Although much of the legislation that passed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ January does not stand a chance of passing the Senate , Democrats are using that to make their point against the GOP .
They ’ re arguing that D.C. Republicans and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell are obstructionists standing in the way of what Americans signaled they wanted in 2018 .
“ As we push further into Republican-held territory the importance of McConnell as a foil beyond President Trump will be even more central , ” DCCC leadership wrote in a memo Thursday .
Democrats are trying to make inroads in suburbanizing and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ early in 2019 trying to reach out to young people and minorities , with field managers spread across the country .
Democrats lost a competitive special election in North Carolina last summer , but they used the race to test different strategies to connect with black voters .
They ’ ve made Texas ground zero for their offensive efforts with a headquarters in Austin .
National Democrats at the House and Senate campaign committees , as well as outside groups , have also made voter rights and redistricting litigation a big part of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
[ The 10 most vulnerable senators in 2020 : Republicans play defense ] Here are the new targets : Independent Alyse Galvin is seeking a rematch against Rep. Don Young , the longest-serving Republican House member in history , who was also a DCCC target in 2018 .
Galvin , an education advocate , came within 7 points of defeating Young that year , as a newcomer to political campaigning .
She argues that this time she has the funding , the experience and the organization to pull off a victory .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , has faced a series of close races after spending most of his career winning by landslides .
Democrats think Young , 86 , is vulnerable partly because internal GOP term limit rules prohibit him from holding the powerful committee positions that defined his career .
As of the close of the third quarter on Sept. 30 , Galvin had $ 401,000 in cash on hand to Young ’ s $ 515,000 .
Trump won Alaska by 15 points in 2016 , and Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales rates the House race @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hold on to this open seat in Southern California after Rep. Katie Hill resigned late last year .
Multiple Democrats and Republicans are competing in both the special election and the race for a full term .
Local and national Democrats have rallied around Assemblywoman Christy Smith , but another Democrat , Cenk Uygur , host of the liberal online show “ The Young Turks , ” is also in the race .
Former GOP Rep. Steve Knight , whom Hill defeated by 9 points in 2018 , is running for his old @ @ @ @ @ @ @ include Navy veteran Mike Garcia , who entered before Hill resigned , and former Trump campaign aide George Papadopoulos , who served prison time for lying to the FBI .
Papadopoulos is running to represent the district for a full term , but he is not expected on the ballot for the special election .
California has a top-two primary system , although the rules are slightly different for the primary for the full term and the special election .
Both elections will take place on March 3 , with candidates of all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ For the special election , if a candidate wins more than 50 percent of the vote , he or she would win the race outright .
Because there are a dozen candidates on the ballot , campaign operatives in both parties expect that race to advance to a May 12 election in which the top two vote-getters , regardless of party , would face off .
For the full term , the top two vote-getters , again regardless of party , will advance to the November general election .
Inside Elections rates the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sprawling eastern Kansas district is suburban enough , with swaths of Topeka , Lawrence and the outer Kansas City suburbs , to mirror dynamics that helped them flip the Kansas City-area 3rd District in 2018 .
They also see freshman Republican Steve Watkins , who is the subject of a voter fraud investigation , as a flawed candidate .
Watkins , an army veteran and military contractor , put a UPS store address on a voter registration form in 2019 and has spent nearly $ 25,000 of his campaign money on legal costs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ facing a Federal Election Commission investigation , The Kansas City Star reported .
Democrats ’ interest in the race was piqued this month when Michelle De La Isla , Topeka ’ s first Latina mayor , announced she would run .
But the district could still be a heavy lift for Democrats .
Trump won it by 18 points in 2016 , and Watkins was able to narrowly defeat Democrat Paul Davis , who had much greater name recognition as a former minority leader in the state House and as his party ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Watkins was able to overcome questions that he misrepresented parts of his biography and concerns about his conservative credentials , among other issues with his campaign .
This year , he also faces a primary challenge from Kansas Treasurer Jake LaTurner .
Inside Elections rates the race Solid Republican .
Court-mandated redistricting made this seat more Democratic , and the DCCC now sees an opportunity to go after GOP Rep. Richard Hudson .
Under the new lines , Trump carried the 8th District by 9 points instead of 15 points , according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are optimistic about the new district being majority suburban , with an African American population of 28 percent , according to the DCCC .
Inside Elections rates the race Likely Republican .
This seat is now in Republican hands after freshman Rep. Jeff Van Drew , who flipped the seat from red to blue in 2018 , switched parties .
President Barack Obama carried the South Jersey district in 2008 and 2012 before it swung to Trump , who carried it by nearly 5 points in 2016 .
After Van Drew came out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he ’ d struggle to hold on to the Democratic nomination .
He faces several GOP challengers who were already in the race , but he is now running with Trump ’ s backing .
Several Democrats are running here , and the DCCC is hopeful that Van Drew ’ s party switch will weaken him as a candidate .
Inside Elections rates the race Tilts Republican .
The addition of the 2nd District underscores how Democrats view Texas as a top House battleground in 2020 .
Rep. Daniel Crenshaw , who has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Saturday Night Live ” in 2018 , has proved to be a prolific fundraiser .
A former Navy SEAL , Crenshaw won his first term in 2018 by 7 points , but Democratic Senate nominee Beto O ’ Rourke lost the Houston-area district by just 1 point that year .
Trump carried the district by 9 points in 2016 .
Inside Elections rates the race Likely Republican .
Former O ’ Rourke adviser Sima Ladjevardian is challenging Crenshaw , entering the race shortly before the filing deadline in December .
She raised $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her campaign , according to the Texas Tribune .
Navy veteran Elissa Cardnell is also seeking the Democratic nomination , and she had raised a total of $ 178,000 as of Sept. 30 and had $ 62,000 on hand .
Crenshaw ’ s campaign ended Sept. 30 with $ 1.6 million in the bank .

Independent Alyse Galvin is seeking a rematch against Rep. Don Young, the longest-serving Republican House member in history, who was also a DCCC target in 2018. Galvin, an education advocate, came within 7 points of defeating Young that year, as a newcomer to political campaigning. She argues that this time she has the funding, the experience and the organization to pull off a victory. Young, a legend in Alaskan politics, has faced a series of close races after spending most of his career winning by landslides. Democrats think Young, 86, is vulnerable partly because internal GOP term limit rules prohibit him from holding the powerful committee positions that defined his career. As of the close of the third quarter on Sept. 30, Galvin had $401,000 in cash on hand to Young’s $515,000. Trump won Alaska by 15 points in 2016, and Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales rates the House race Solid Republican.
California’s 25th District
Democrats are looking to hold on to this open seat in Southern California after Rep. Katie Hill resigned late last year. Multiple Democrats and Republicans are competing in both the special election and the race for a full term. Local and national Democrats have rallied around Assemblywoman Christy Smith, but another Democrat, Cenk Uygur, host of the liberal online show “The Young Turks,” is also in the race. Former GOP Rep. Steve Knight, whom Hill defeated by 9 points in 2018, is running for his old seat. Other Republicans in the race include Navy veteran Mike Garcia, who entered before Hill resigned, and former Trump campaign aide George Papadopoulos, who served prison time for lying to the FBI. Papadopoulos is running to represent the district for a full term, but he is not expected on the ballot for the special election.
California has a top-two primary system, although the rules are slightly different for the primary for the full term and the special election. Both elections will take place on March 3, with candidates of all parties running on the same ballot. For the special election, if a candidate wins more than 50 percent of the vote, he or she would win the race outright. Because there are a dozen candidates on the ballot, campaign operatives in both parties expect that race to advance to a May 12 election in which the top two vote-getters, regardless of party, would face off. For the full term, the top two vote-getters, again regardless of party, will advance to the November general election. Inside Elections rates the race Solid Democratic.
Kansas’ 2nd District
Democrats hope this sprawling eastern Kansas district is suburban enough, with swaths of Topeka, Lawrence and the outer Kansas City suburbs, to mirror dynamics that helped them flip the Kansas City-area 3rd District in 2018. They also see freshman Republican Steve Watkins, who is the subject of a voter fraud investigation, as a flawed candidate.
Watkins, an army veteran and military contractor, put a UPS store address on a voter registration form in 2019 and has spent nearly $25,000 of his campaign money on legal costs, an indication that he may be facing a Federal Election Commission investigation, The Kansas City Star reported. Democrats’ interest in the race was piqued this month when Michelle De La Isla, Topeka’s first Latina mayor, announced she would run.


rollcall--2020-01-16--Senate passes USMCA bill, giving Trump a win on trade

Sen. Jim Risch , R-Idaho , checks his watch while waiting for Sen. Bernie Sanders , I-Vt. , to wrap up a press conference in the Senate Radio/TV studio on Thursday , Jan. 9 , 2020 .
Sen. Risch along with Sen. John Barrasso , R-Wyo.
, Sen. Roger Wicker , R-Miss.
, and Sen. Chuck Grassley , R-Iowa , were waiting to hold a press conference on USMCA , which passed the Senate Thursday .
( Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call ) The Senate approved implementing legislation Thursday for a renegotiated version of the North American Free Trade Agreement , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Senate moved to swearing in its members as jurors in Trump ’ s impeachment trial .
The Senate voted 89-10 to clear the bill for Trump 's signature , with several dissenting Democrats citing the absence of climate change provisions as a lost opportunity to address the issue on an international scale since Trump withdrew the U.S. from the Paris climate agreement .
U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer , who negotiated the deal , watched the vote from the public gallery .
The vote on the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement occurred after the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sen. Patrick J. Toomey , R-Pa. , argued on the floor , as he did in the Budget Committee , that the bill included appropriations that violate budget rules .
Toomey voted against the bill along with Democrats Charles E. Schumer , the minority leader , and Kirsten Gillibrand of New York , Kamala Harris of California ; Sheldon Whitehouse and Jack Reed of Rhode Island ; Brian Schatz of Hawaii ; Cory Booker of New Jersey ; Edward J. Markey of Massachusetts ; and independent Bernie Sanders of Vermont .
The Democrat-controlled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a bipartisan vote of 385-41 .
Speaker Nancy Pelosi , D-Calif. , said House Democrats had negotiated several changes to the USMCA to make it acceptable .
Key changes for Democrats included enforcement of labor provisions they believe will make it more difficult and expensive for U.S. manufacturers , particularly auto makers , to shift production to Mexico .
The changes won the endorsement of the AFL-CIO , but other unions such as the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers oppose it .
The pact also would give technology companies provisions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exist when NAFTA was negotiated .
A chapter based on Section 230 of a 1996 telecommunications law ( PL 104-104 ) gives companies like Facebook , Google and Twitter immunity from liability for user content posted on their platforms .
Trump is expected to tout the vote in his reelection campaign as a promise kept .
In 2016 , he vowed either to revamp the 1994 trade agreement or to withdraw the U.S. from the pact .
As president , Trump caused anxiety among businesses large and small and his base of farm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ NAFTA if Canada and Mexico did not make concessions .
Business groups say congressional approval of the USMCA implementing bill makes it less likely Trump will try to upend a trade agreement negotiated and renamed by his administration .
The bill now goes to Trump for signing , but the Canadian Parliament still must ratify the USMCA before the agreement can take effect .
Mexico has already approved the new pact .
The implementing legislation provides the framework and mechanisms the Trump administration will use to enforce labor rights and environmental standards with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , an interagency task force on labor will be established 90 days after the bill takes effect .
The USMCA will replace NAFTA , an agreement credited with building the three nations into a $ 1.2 trillion-a-year trading bloc and blamed for contributing to the loss of thousands of U.S. manufacturing jobs to low-wage Mexico .
Trump campaigned against NAFTA as the “ worst trade deal ever made.
” In committee reviews , floor comments and statements , several senators cited the absence of environmental provisions addressing climate change as one reason for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seemed unlikely the administration would have pursued climate change , not only because of Trump ’ s skepticism of the science behind it , but also because a trade-negotiating objective Congress approved in 2015 says trade agreements are not to establish obligations for the U.S. regarding greenhouse gas emissions .
The language is part of a customs enforcement law that added several negotiating guidelines to the Trade Promotion Authority statute , which sets the ground rules for trade deals sent to Congress for approval .
Democratic presidential candidates Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Colorado voted for the pact .
Sanders , another candidate , said in a written statement that it should be rewritten because it does not guarantee that companies will stop shifting jobs to Mexico .
The Congressional Budget Office estimates that the USMCA will increase U.S. government revenue by $ 2.97 billion from fiscal 2020 to 2029 due to higher expected duty revenue on car and truck parts that do not meet stricter rules .
Some vehicles and parts would no longer qualify for duty-free treatment because they do n't meet new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cars and auto parts come from North America and that 40 percent of car content and 45 percent of truck content be made by workers earning $ 16 an hour .
The CBO also estimates that the agreement would reduce the federal deficit by $ 3 billion over a 10-year period .
The agency estimates that appropriations not subject to emergency status would total $ 833 million in outlays from fiscal 2020 to 2029 .
Under the USMCA , U.S. dairy , poultry and egg products would gain greater access to Canadian markets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quality-grading system for U.S. wheat .
Canada also will end pricing schemes the U.S. dairy industry says keep Canadian skim milk powder prices at artificially lower levels , giving domestic producers an edge in sales to Canadian cheese-makers over U.S. high-protein ultrafiltered milk .
The International Trade Commission , an independent agency , said the trade agreement , “ if fully implemented and enforced , ” over several years would increase real GDP by $ 68.2 billion , or 0.35 percent , and would add 176,000 jobs to the U.S. economy .
House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2019 resulted in the removal of provisions that would have given pharmaceutical companies a 10-year pricing monopoly on biologic drugs in Mexico and Canada .
The U.S. has 12-year pricing exclusivity for biologics , and Democrats worried that keeping the provisions in the USMCA would prevent future Congresses from reducing the U.S. timeframe to less than 10 years .

The Senate approved implementing legislation Thursday for a renegotiated version of the North American Free Trade Agreement, giving President Donald Trump a victory as the Senate moved to swearing in its members as jurors in Trump’s impeachment trial.
The Senate voted 89-10 to clear the bill for Trump’s signature, with several dissenting Democrats citing the absence of climate change provisions as a lost opportunity to address the issue on an international scale since Trump withdrew the U.S. from the Paris climate agreement. U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, who negotiated the deal, watched the vote from the public gallery.
The vote on the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement occurred after the Senate voted to waive budget restrictions. Sen. Patrick J. Toomey, R-Pa., argued on the floor, as he did in the Budget Committee, that the bill included appropriations that violate budget rules.
Toomey voted against the bill along with Democrats Charles E. Schumer, the minority leader, and Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, Kamala Harris of California; Sheldon Whitehouse and Jack Reed of Rhode Island; Brian Schatz of Hawaii; Cory Booker of New Jersey; Edward J. Markey of Massachusetts; and independent Bernie Sanders of Vermont.
The Democrat-controlled House approved the bill on Dec. 19 with a bipartisan vote of 385-41. Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said House Democrats had negotiated several changes to the USMCA to make it acceptable.


rollcall--2020-01-16--Chief Justice leaves his friendly confines for Trump impeachment trial

Charles E. Grassley was one of the first senators to suggest Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. might be uncomfortable presiding over the Senate ’ s impeachment trial of President Donald Trump — in part because it will be televised .
The Iowa Republican , who will swear in Roberts for his role Thursday , has long been an advocate for adding cameras to the Supreme Court .
But Roberts and the other justices haven ’ t budged .
They still conduct oral arguments and announce opinions in a courtroom without cameras or cell phones .
“ Chief Justice Roberts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I hope he gets comfortable in front of cameras in Senate chamber & warms up 2 cameras in courtroom @ Supreme Court Transparency wld allow more Americans 2see our judicial system @ wrk , ” Grassley tweeted Tuesday .
There ’ s plenty more than cameras that could make Roberts uncomfortable during the trial , if the past is any clue .
He ’ ll have to trade his usual private chambers for a spot just outside the Senate chamber .
The scheduling will mess with his duties as the head of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stocked with high-profile and divisive cases .
There could be boring trial breaks .
On the rostrum , he ’ ll be asked to make immediate decisions on contentious political questions .
And , if the timing works out , he might have to spend part of his 65th birthday Jan. 27 presiding over the World ’ s Greatest Deliberative Body , which bans balloons from the premises .
Will anyone know his favorite dessert ?
William Rehnquist , the chief judge who presided over Bill Clinton ’ s impeachment trial , was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in then-Senate Sergeant at Arms James Ziglar , who told CQ Roll Call how he found out what sweets kept the chief justice happy .
Ziglar and Rehnquist were friends because he had worked with Rehnquist at the Justice Department , worked on Rehnquist ’ s confirmation , and was a clerk for another Supreme Court justice .
They went to lunch during the trial and Rehnquist was complaining .
“ I said to him , chief , what can I do to make you less grumpy ?
” Ziglar said .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guess I have been , haven ’ t I.
’ ” And the chief justice promised he would be nicer if he had a chocolate chip cookie and ice cream during the trial breaks .
After that , Ziglar said he kept those items on hand in the senators ’ dining room for when there was a break of two or three hours and Rehnquist wasn ’ t headed back to the Supreme Court .
“ I just had them keep the ice cream in their freezer , and they kept the cookies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ One of my staff would run down to the restaurant literally one floor before and it was up there in five minutes.
” Rehnquist took over the president ’ s room for the trial , which is just off the Senate floor .
The Senate has not indicated where Roberts ’ space will be , but the Supreme Court press office said Thursday that it expects it will be the same space .
Rehnquist was forced to cool his heels in Ziglar ’ s office for nearly two hours one day as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meetings and finished drafting language for a compromise plan for Clinton ’ s impeachment trial , Roll Call reported at the time .
Ziglar back then said he “ told him all my jokes and sang him all my songs.
” There will be other bouts of boredom .
Rehnquist liked to play poker , and Ziglar said he walked into the president ’ s room one day to find a live game of poker with pennies , nickels and dimes .
Ziglar said he looked at him and said , “ Chief @ @ @ @ @ @ @ law enforcement officer in the Senate , and gambling is not allowed.
” Ziglar said he left and checked back five minutes later to find all the money was replaced with colored pieces of paper labeled with 1 , 5 or 10 .
Roberts will have the assistance of the counselor to the chief justice and other support staff from the Court , as well as help from one of his law clerks throughout the trial , the Supreme Court said .
When Roberts presides , both Democrats and Republicans have said they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will have the chance to rule on , such as whether witnesses should be called or evidence should be admitted .
“ In the Senate , he is going to be determined to stay as far out of politics as possible and avoid any hint of any decisions that could have any political valiance , and to play it completely down the middle , ” said Jeffrey Rosen , the National Constitution Center president and chief executive officer who has written about Roberts ’ approach to the role of chief justice .
Roberts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ maintain the legitimacy of the court as non-partisan , Rosen said .
When he is in a courtroom , he ’ s determined to be fair and neutral and to make all sides feel like they are being heard .
“ So , although he ’ s not inherently comfortable in political arenas — because when he ’ s a judge he should not be political — I think he will recognize and welcome the opportunity that the Constitution affords to dignify this mix of political and legal proceedings with the presence of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And Roberts will be aware of Senate impeachment trial rules that not only allow a vote to have the majority overrule any decision he makes , but that he can avoid making a decision and just have the Senate vote instead .
Roberts has been “ preparing appropriately , ” the Supreme Court press office said , and “ has reviewed the Senate Rules and past proceedings.
” Roberts likely will defer to the Senate ’ s own rules , and the Senate ’ s parliamentarian , to “ do his best to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or even attributed to him , ” Rosen said .
At least one thing will be comfortable : Roberts will wear his judicial robe , the same robe he wears for oral arguments .
From across the street from the Capitol Building , Roberts will go by car to the Senate each day of the impeachment trial , and will be escorted by a Supreme Court security detail , the Supreme Court said .
The court typically hears oral arguments from 10 a.m. to about noon , and if the Senate follows previous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the afternoon .
“ In the unlikely event the Chief Justice had to leave the bench before arguments conclude , the most senior associate justice , Justice [ Clarence ] Thomas , would preside in the Courtroom , ” the Supreme Court said .
“ In the unlikely event the Chief Justice were required to miss oral arguments , he would participate in the cases on the basis of the briefs and the transcripts of oral arguments.
” The Supreme Court has oral arguments scheduled for Jan. 21 , when the Senate is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
There are also arguments set for Jan. 22 , a closed-door conference to discuss cases on Jan. 24 , and a non-argument day on Jan. 27 .
But then the Supreme Court does not have anything scheduled until Feb. 21 .
However , the justices are working on opinions for cases they already heard this term and preparing for oral arguments on issues such as abortion and congressional subpoenas for Trump ’ s financial documents .
“ The Chief Justice and his law clerks will conduct Court work as they usually do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ briefs , ” the Supreme Court said .

Charles E. Grassley was one of the first senators to suggest Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. might be uncomfortable presiding over the Senate’s impeachment trial of President Donald Trump — in part because it will be televised.
The Iowa Republican, who will swear in Roberts for his role Thursday, has long been an advocate for adding cameras to the Supreme Court. But Roberts and the other justices haven’t budged. They still conduct oral arguments and announce opinions in a courtroom without cameras or cell phones.
“Chief Justice Roberts will preside over impeachment trial on TV I hope he gets comfortable in front of cameras in Senate chamber &warms up 2 cameras in courtroom @ Supreme Court Transparency wld allow more Americans 2see our judicial system @ wrk,” Grassley tweeted Tuesday.
There’s plenty more than cameras that could make Roberts uncomfortable during the trial, if the past is any clue. He’ll have to trade his usual private chambers for a spot just outside the Senate chamber. The scheduling will mess with his duties as the head of the Judicial Branch during a Supreme Court term stocked with high-profile and divisive cases.
Little inconveniences
There could be boring trial breaks. On the rostrum, he’ll be asked to make immediate decisions on contentious political questions. And, if the timing works out, he might have to spend part of his 65th birthday Jan. 27 presiding over the World’s Greatest Deliberative Body, which bans balloons from the premises.


rollcall--2020-01-16--Rating change: With Hunter gone, California race shifts to Solid Republican

Corrected 2:02 p.m. | California Republican Duncan Hunter finally left the House and took any Democratic chances of winning the 50th District with him .
Hunter won reelection in 2018 by 3 points in a Southern California seat that Republicans shouldn ’ t have to worry about defending , considering President Donald Trump carried it by 15 points in 2016 .
Hunter was under indictment at the time , which shows the strength any GOP candidate should have in the district .
Hunter subsequently pleaded guilty on Dec. 3 to misusing hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign funds , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — extending the time he was eligible for congressional pay and benefits .
He ’ s scheduled to be sentenced in March .
A recent poll , conducted Jan. 9-12 by SurveyUSA , confirms the fundamental partisanship of the district .
Under California law , all candidates , regardless of party , run in the same primary with the top two vote-getters advancing to the general election .
Democrat Ammar Campa-Najjar was the leading candidate in the SurveyUSA poll with 26 percent and another Democrat , Marisa Calderon , the executive director of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Professionals , was in fifth with 3 percent .
Their combined 29 percent was a far cry from the 48 percent Campa-Najjar received in the 2018 general election against Hunter and even down a few points from the 31 percent he received in an October survey .
Right now , it looks like a race for second in the March 3 primary is between former Rep. Darrell Issa ( 21 percent ) and former San Diego City Councilmember Carl DeMaio ( 20 percent ) .
GOP state Sen. Brian Jones was in third @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recent poll .
Issa represented the 49th District , located northwest of the 50th , for nine terms and did not seek reelection in 2018 .
In 2014 , DeMaio ran unsuccessfully in the 52nd District , to the southwest of the seat he now seeks .
The race is just getting started at this stage as Issa , the former wealthiest member of Congress , faces off against DeMaio , who is proving to be one of the best GOP fundraisers on the House side .
But the most important factor from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not be the GOP nominee .
So the Inside Elections rating of the race in California ’ s 50th from is changing from Leans Republican to Solid Republican .
Hunter ’ s seat will remain vacant until next January when the winner of November ’ s general election takes office .
With two well-funded candidates , it ’ s possible for two Republicans to make it to November .
But Democratic turnout is likely to be high on March 3 because of the presidential primary , and should ensure Campa-Najjar finishes in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 50th dropping off the list of competitive races , the total number of vulnerable Republican seats decreases from 32 to 31 .
But the House battlefield is still relatively even with 38 vulnerable Democratic seats .
That makes it challenging for Republicans to net the 18 seats necessary to win the majority .
This story has been corrected to reflect that there won ’ t be a special election this year for California ’ s 50th District .

Corrected 2:02 p.m. | California Republican Duncan Hunter finally left the House and took any Democratic chances of winning the 50th District with him.
Hunter won reelection in 2018 by 3 points in a Southern California seat that Republicans shouldn’t have to worry about defending, considering President Donald Trump carried it by 15 points in 2016. Hunter was under indictment at the time, which shows the strength any GOP candidate should have in the district.
Hunter subsequently pleaded guilty on Dec. 3 to misusing hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign funds, but waited until mid-January to officially resign — extending the time he was eligible for congressional pay and benefits. He’s scheduled to be sentenced in March.
A recent poll, conducted Jan. 9-12 by SurveyUSA, confirms the fundamental partisanship of the district. Under California law, all candidates, regardless of party, run in the same primary with the top two vote-getters advancing to the general election. Democrat Ammar Campa-Najjar was the leading candidate in the SurveyUSA poll with 26 percent and another Democrat, Marisa Calderon, the executive director of the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals, was in fifth with 3 percent. Their combined 29 percent was a far cry from the 48 percent Campa-Najjar received in the 2018 general election against Hunter and even down a few points from the 31 percent he received in an October survey.
Right now, it looks like a race for second in the March 3 primary is between former Rep. Darrell Issa (21 percent) and former San Diego City Councilmember Carl DeMaio (20 percent). GOP state Sen. Brian Jones was in third place with 12 percent in the most recent poll. Issa represented the 49th District, located northwest of the 50th, for nine terms and did not seek reelection in 2018. In 2014, DeMaio ran unsuccessfully in the 52nd District, to the southwest of the seat he now seeks.


rollcall--2020-01-16--GAO: Trump’s hold on Ukraine aid violated budget law

President Donald Trump boards Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House in October .
( Caroline Brehman/CQ Roll Call file photo ) The Government Accountability Office said in an opinion Thursday that President Donald Trump violated federal budget law when he ordered White House officials to withhold most of a $ 250 million military aid package for Ukraine last summer .
The finding comes after House Democrats delivered articles of impeachment on abuse of power and obstruction of Congress grounds stemming from the Ukraine affair to the Senate Wednesday evening , triggering the Senate trial expected to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , requested by Sen. Chris Van Hollen , D-Md.
, GAO said the withholding was an illegal “ deferral ” of money appropriated by Congress and ran afoul of a Nixon-era law aimed at ensuring funds are spent according to lawmakers ’ intent .
Van Hollen in a statement called it a “ bombshell legal opinion ” that “ demonstrates , without a doubt , that the Trump Administration illegally withheld security assistance from Ukraine.
” He charged that Trump “ ordered this illegal act ” and said the findings “ reinforce the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ relevant documents and hear from key fact witnesses in order to have a fair trial.
” In this case , the GAO focus was on the $ 250 million Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative funding for the Department of Defense appropriated for fiscal 2019 .
The agency said it was still reviewing a similar hold on $ 141.5 million in financing run through the State Department because officials said the White House budget office had n't provided enough information for a decision to be rendered .
Previously , White House budget office lawyers had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ programmatic delay , ” in which “ operational factors unavoidably impede ” the obligation of funds despite “ reasonable and good faith efforts to implement the program , ” using GAO definitions .
The GAO opinion disagreed , arguing the administration withheld $ 214 million of the military assistance as a result of nine separate temporary holds .
“ OMB violated the [ 1974 budget law ] when it withheld DOD ’ s USAI funds from obligation for policy reasons , ” the opinion said , referring to the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was not a programmatic delay.
” “ We disagree with GAO ’ s opinion , ” Office of Management and Budget spokeswoman Rachel Semmel said in a statement .
“ OMB uses its apportionment authority to ensure taxpayer dollars are properly spent consistent with the President ’ s priorities and with the law.
” A senior administration official said GAO ’ s “ findings are a pretty clear overreach as they attempt to insert themselves into the media 's controversy of the day.
” The official said the congressional investigators have “ a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may have to “ reverse their opinion again ” as further information comes to light .
[ Ukrainian lives hung in balance as Trump held up aid ] OMB General Counsel Mark Paoletta said in a letter to executive branch agency general counsels last year that the executive branch is not bound by legal opinions from the legislative branch — the GAO is a legislative agency — because of the separation of powers doctrine .
The 1974 budget law allows the president to temporarily defer or withhold appropriated funds , but only for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sends a special message to Congress explaining the reasons for the deferral .
GAO noted that Trump never sent such a message to Congress .
The agency said Trump also violated the law because the hold did not comply with the required conditions for a deferral .
The funding hold was formally initiated July 25 , the same day Trump spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on the phone to congratulate him on his recent election .
Trump urged him to , among other things , open an investigation into former Vice President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s activities while serving on the board of a Ukrainian natural gas company .
While the letter freezing the funds was initially signed by Mark Sandy , a career OMB official , it was renewed several times by a political appointee , Michael Duffey , which budget veterans have said is highly unusual .
Sandy testified in private before House investigators in November that two OMB officials resigned over the aid holdup , at least in part due to concerns about potential budget law violations .
Ultimately the funds were released on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ couldn ’ t obligate $ 35.2 million of its $ 250 million fiscal 2019 Ukraine military assistance appropriation in time .
Congress had to extend the funds ’ availability in a stopgap funding law .
The remaining $ 141.5 million in State Department foreign military financing funds were obligated on time .
GAO has reported periodic illegal impoundments over the years , including during the Trump administration and others during the presidencies of George Bush , Bill Clinton and George W. Bush .
Typically , the funds were released for obligation , making @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Richard C. Shelby , an Alabama Republican , said Thursday he had n't reviewed the agency 's decision in detail .
But he questioned the timing of the release , landing just as Senate impeachment trial proceedings were getting underway .
“ The timing looks suspect , ” Shelby said .
“ I do n't recall offhand the GAO ever getting involved in partisan politics — political games , and they 're right in it here .
”

The Government Accountability Office said in an opinion Thursday that President Donald Trump violated federal budget law when he ordered White House officials to withhold most of a $250 million military aid package for Ukraine last summer.
The finding comes after House Democrats delivered articles of impeachment on abuse of power and obstruction of Congress grounds stemming from the Ukraine affair to the Senate Wednesday evening, triggering the Senate trial expected to start next week.
In the opinion, requested by Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., GAO said the withholding was an illegal “deferral” of money appropriated by Congress and ran afoul of a Nixon-era law aimed at ensuring funds are spent according to lawmakers’ intent.
[Ukraine aid legal ruling could shake up impeachment trial]
Van Hollen in a statement called it a “bombshell legal opinion” that “demonstrates, without a doubt, that the Trump Administration illegally withheld security assistance from Ukraine.” He charged that Trump “ordered this illegal act” and said the findings “reinforce the need for the Senate to obtain all relevant documents and hear from key fact witnesses in order to have a fair trial.”


rollcall--2020-01-16--Liz Cheney is not running for Senate in Wyoming

Republican Conference Chairwoman Liz Cheney , R-Wyo.
, announced Thursday that she is not running for Senate .
( Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call file photo ) Rep. Liz Cheney , the only woman in House Republican leadership , announced Thursday that she is not running for an open Senate seat in Wyoming .
“ I believe I can have the biggest impact for the people of Wyoming by remaining in leadership in the House of Representatives and working [ to ] take our Republican majority , ” Cheney told the Casper Star-Tribune .
The two-term congresswoman currently chairs the GOP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its at-large representative .
Cheney is the daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney , who also represented Wyoming in Congress and rose through the ranks of House leadership .
Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy of California said the decision was a sign of confidence in the GOP ’ s chances in November .
“ What you need to read into it is there 's a real chance we 're going to win the majority , ” McCarthy said , adding Cheney was the type of person Republicans need on their team to do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she will not be facing off against another Republican woman running for Senate , former GOP Rep. Cynthia Lummis .
The former congresswoman had predicted a “ barn burner ” of a primary if Cheney jumped in the race .
Other candidates , including Republican donor Foster Friess , could still jump into the race and compete for a rare open seat .
Republican Sen. Michael B. Enzi has announced he will retire after serving four terms in the Senate .
The winner of the state ’ s Aug. 18 Republican primary is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to win the general election , given the Wyoming ’ s partisan lean .
President Donald Trump carried the state by 46 points in 2016 and Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales rates the Senate race Solidly Republican .

Rep. Liz Cheney, the only woman in House Republican leadership, announced Thursday that she is not running for an open Senate seat in Wyoming.
“I believe I can have the biggest impact for the people of Wyoming by remaining in leadership in the House of Representatives and working [to] take our Republican majority,” Cheney told the Casper Star-Tribune.
The two-term congresswoman currently chairs the GOP conference and represents the entire state as its at-large representative. Cheney is the daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney, who also represented Wyoming in Congress and rose through the ranks of House leadership.
Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy of California said the decision was a sign of confidence in the GOP’s chances in November.
“What you need to read into it is there’s a real chance we’re going to win the majority,” McCarthy said, adding Cheney was the type of person Republicans need on their team to do that.


rollcall--2020-01-16--Impeachment news roundup: Jan. 16

Impeachment news roundup: Jan. 16

Rep. Adam Schiff , D-Calif. , and Rep. Jerrold Nadler , D-N.Y. , lead the group of House impeachment managers to the Senate side of the Capitol on Thursday to read the articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump to the Senate .
( Caroline Brehman/CQ Roll Call ) Democrats led by Minority Leader Sen. Charles E. Schumer reiterated they want to hear the testimony of four witnesses during the Senate impeachment trial of President Donald Trump .
“ We expect we will have votes on these witnesses on Tuesday , ” Schumer said Thursday .
Schumer went on to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Roberts Jr. entered the Senate chamber , members could “ feel the weight of the moment , ” and that he “ saw members on both sides of the aisle visibly gulp.
” Schumer was joined on stage by Democratic Sens .
Kamala Harris of California , Chris Van Hollen of Maryland , Chris Coons of Delaware and Connecticut ’ s Richard Blumenthal .
Schumer said he was “ actually filled with anger ” regarding the charges against Trump .
Harris reinforced the need for witnesses in the Senate trial , saying that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ break with precedent.
” “ The very integrity of the United States Senate is on trial , ” she said as Democrats continued to call for witnesses and additional documents for the Senate trial .
Harris , Coons and Schumer all used the word “ solemn ” to describe the coming trial .
Democrats have said for months that impeachment and the trial are not politically charged but their solemn constitutional duty .
Republicans have consistently said Democrats are simply pursuing partisan politics .
Blumenthal said he had a “ knot in my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He cited the GAO report and said it highlights the importance of calling OMB Director Mick Mulvaney as a witness .
Schumer said the Senate trial is “ a different world than the normal Senate world , ” citing the solemn feeling of considering removing the president with the chief justice presiding .
Sen. Susan Collins said in a statement she could be leaning in favor of calling at least some witnesses as the impeachment trial proceeds .
“ While I need to hear the case argued and the questions answered , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would be helpful .
It is likely that I would support a motion to call witnesses at that point in the trial just as I did in 1999 , ” the Maine Republican said .
Collins said that would be in line with her previously-stated support for using the Clinton trial as a template .
“ There has been a lot of mischaracterization and misunderstanding about my position on the process the Senate should follow for the impeachment trial , ” she said .
Collins signaled opposition to an effort by Senate Democrats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the House managers and the Trump lawyers present their cases .
“ Prior to hearing the statement of the case and the Senators asking questions , I will not support any attempts by either side to subpoena documents or witnesses , ” Collins said .
“ Instead , that issue should be addressed at the same point that it was in the 1999 trial.
” Here is the latest on impeachment : Leading the case : Sen. Ben Cardin said he envisions lead manager Rep. Adam B. Schiff of California serving a role @ @ @ @ @ @ @ court case who will assign duties to the six other House managers in the impeachment trial as he sees fit .
“ Yes , I think he ’ ll allocate certain parts of the presentations to other managers , but I expect he ’ ll be the deciding factor as to who should respond to [ what ] when needed , ” the Maryland Democrat said .
He also noted the tectonic nature of this historic proceeding was reinforced when he heard the articles read and when the chief justice arrived at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Well , you know , it 's something you never want to have to live through .
It ’ s a solemn day , sad day for our country , and I think it really hit home as we were listening to the articles of impeachment and then saw the chief justice come in and taking the oath , ” Cardin said .
Headed to Davos : Despite the start of the Senate impeachment trial , Trump signaled he won ’ t back out of the World Economic Forum next week in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going to Davos , ” he told reporters , according to a pool report from an unrelated event .
Parnas pressure : House impeachment manager Val Demings said she doesn ’ t know yet how Rudy Giuliani associate Lev Parnas ’ interview on the pressure campaign on Ukraine to investigate Trump ’ s political rivals changes the case against the president , noting that Parnas is “ somebody who ’ s had his issues.
” But the Florida Democrat said the prosecuting team is watching Parnas ’ interviews and digging through the documents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ law enforcement officer I also know that we ’ ve been able to put some pretty strong cases together for people who have maybe ... started on the wrong side , but decided to try to right their wrongs by cooperating with our state attorney .
And that could be the situation here , we just do n't know yet , ” said Demings , a former chief of the Orlando Police Department .
Parnas implicated the president in the effort to force Ukraine to launch an investigation into political rivals in interviews @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House investigators on Tuesday released thousands of pages of documents provided by Parnas that show his role in efforts by Giuliani and his associates to try to force Ukraine to announce that it was launching an investigation into Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden , who sat on the board of a Ukrainian energy company .
“ I don ’ t know him , ” Trump told reporters , but acknowledged again they once posed for a photograph together .
Parnas was at a fundraiser where they snapped a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saying he takes “ thousands and thousands ” of pictures each year at such events .
Trump said of Parnas ’ CNN interview : “ He ’ s trying to probably make a deal for himself.
” House Intelligence Chairman and lead impeachment manager Adam B. Schiff said in a statement that documents Parnas provided to the House “ corroborate much of what we already about the Ukraine matter and about the president ’ s scheme to coerce Ukraine , ” and that his public interviews “ shed additional insights into the origins @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Rudy Giuliani were doing on the president ’ s behalf , and other members of the administration who were knowledgeable.
” “ We are continuing to review his interviews and the materials he has provided to evaluate his potential testimony in the Senate trial , ” Schiff said .
Pelosi on Parnas : The Parnas documents and his interviews speak “ clearly for the need for the Senate to enter the documentation into their discussion , ” Speaker Nancy Pelosi said in her weekly news conference Thursday morning .
“ Every day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she said .
Asked to respond to Senate Republicans who say they shouldn ’ t have to consider evidence that wasn ’ t part of the House investigation , she said : “ They ’ re afraid of the truth .
...
This is just another avoiding of the facts and the truth on their part .
… They want to ignore anything new that comes .
... Any further evidence should not be avoided.
” “ Public opinion will have a lot to do with this , ” the speaker added , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ articles “ public opinion has grown enormously.
” Asked if Parnas would be a credible witness , Pelosi said , “ Credible relates to the documents and the rest .
It certainly raises questions.
” “ There seems to be documents that would validate what Parnas is saying , ” she said .
Pressed on whether Parnas can be a credible witness since he ’ s under indictment , Pelosi said he ’ d be a credible witness if his testimony relates to the issue at hand .
Castro ’ s call : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new revelations that emerged from Parnas ’ interviews , he should be called as a witness in the Senate impeachment trial and that the House Intelligence Committee should hear from him , too .
“ It was explosive , ” the Texas Democrat said .
“ It ’ s what I suspected it was .
The president orchestrating what looks to be a crime with people inside and outside the government .
And with the participation of people who work for the United States government .
And then people that are outside the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And so , there 's no reason why he should n't be called as a witness in the Senate trial.
” McCarthy unfazed : House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy wasn ’ t phased by new evidence and interviews from Parnas .
“ This man lacks all credibility , ” McCarthy said , noting that Parnas said Intelligence Committee ranking member Devin Nunes was in Vienna when he was not .
McCarthy has been pictured with Parnas and received donations from him .
He explained the former as Parnas having walked up to him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a picture like hundreds of other people .
The latter he said he gave to charity once he learned about the donations .
A reporter pressed McCarthy on his interactions with Parnas , accusing the minority leader of lying at his news conference the week before when he said he thought he met Parnas once , and asked if his team would conduct an audit to reveal the truth about his interactions and donations with Parnas to the press and the public .
McCarthy laughed at the notion of an audit and said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be the same no matter how many times he tries to ask him the same questions about Parnas .
“ I do not know the man .
He came to a fundraiser and he provided me money … learning of that information we gave it to charity , ” he said .
Underway : For the second day in a row , the House impeachment managers made their way from their side of the Capitol to the Senate , this time to read the articles of impeachment into the Senate record .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ will reconvene at 2 p.m. when Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts , who will preside over the trial , swears them in as jurors .
Four senators were chosen as a committee to escort Roberts into the Senate : Republicans Roy Blunt and Lindsey Graham and Democrats Patrick J. Leahy and Dianne Feinstein .
Oklahoma Republican James M. Inhofe was the only senator not present for the reading of the articles and to be sworn in as jurors .
He will be sworn in separately upon his return .
Parnas interviews : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going on , ” Parnas told MSNBC ’ s Rachel Maddow .
“ He was aware of all my movements .
I wouldn ’ t do anything without the consent of Rudy Giuliani , or the president.
” In an interview with The New York Times , Parnas , who was indicted last year on campaign finance violations and is cooperating with prosecutors , said he never spoke directly with Trump about Giuliani ’ s alleged pressure campaign on the Ukrainians , but he met with the president on several occasions and was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of his efforts .
“ I am betting my whole life that Trump knew exactly everything that was going on that Rudy Giuliani was doing in Ukraine , ” Parnas said .
And in an interview with CNN ’ s Anderson Cooper , Parnas said that Giuliani ’ s efforts were “ all about 2020 ” and Trump ’ s reelection and not about fighting corruption in Ukraine as the White House has said .
“ That was the most important thing — for him to stay on for four years and keep @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ I mean , there was no other reason for doing it.
” White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham shot down Parnas ’ allegations in a statement this morning .
“ These allegations are being made by a man who is currently out on bail for federal crimes and is desperate to reduce his exposure to prison , ” she said .
“ The facts haven ’ t changed — the President did nothing wrong and this impeachment , which was manufactured and carried out by the Democrats has been a sham @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : The Government Accountability Office said in an opinion Thursday that Trump violated federal budget law when he ordered White House officials to withhold most of the $ 250 million military aid package for Ukraine last summer .
In the opinion , requested by Sen. Chris Van Hollen , D-Md.
, GAO said the withholding was an illegal “ deferral ” of money appropriated by Congress and ran afoul of a Nixon-era law aimed at ensuring funds are spent according to lawmakers ’ intent .
Pelosi also cited the GAO decision as new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the House voted to impeach Trump .
“ This reinforces again the need for document and eyewitnesses in the Senate , ” she said .
McCarthy said “ 100 percent yes ” when asked if he still thinks Trump ’ s impeachment is a sham in light of GAO ’ s findings .
Republicans have criticized Democrats for charging Trump with abuse of power without citing any laws he broke .
The White House Office of Management and Budget disagreed with the GAO , McCarthy said .
“ These are taxpayer dollars going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was corruption with the new administration , ” McCarthy said .
“ I think it was the right thing to do.
” Slow your roll : Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy urged the Senate to be deliberate during the trial since new evidence and information keeps flowing from House investigators , citing new documents from Parnas and the GAO report released Thursday .
“ This is an ongoing , unfolding scandal , and that is so exceptional , ” the Connecticut Democrat said .
“ In previous impeachments , you weren ’ t getting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the middle of the trial .
It just stands to reason that we should take our time , that we should hear witnesses , that we should request documents because there ’ s more and more evidence coming out every single day.
” Murphy said he does not know whether Parnas would be a credible witness , but that criminals are usually the source of other criminals ’ downfalls .
“ Every criminal conspiracy is unwound by prosecutors by going after the implementers who then ultimately give you information to go after the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ Everything [ Parnas ] is saying has basically been confirmed by other witnesses , ” he said , citing testimony from Trump ’ s Ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland and special envoy to Ukraine Bill Taylor .
“ Parnas ’ testimony fits neatly with what we ’ ve already heard , ” Murphy said .
But Republican Sen. Josh Hawley , whose resolution to immediately dismiss the impeachment charges was defeated last week , pushed back on Murphy ’ s call to slow-walk the impeachment as more information @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ m not interested in having a trial that goes on indefinitely and being here for months and months on end , ” Hawley said .
Management team : Democratic Rep. Ted Deutch of Florida spoke highly of the managers appointed for the impeachment trial .
“ I have the utmost confidence in the managers , ” Deutch said .
“ It ’ s a dedicated , bright , thoughtful group that ’ s committed to upholding the Constitution , and I 'm thrilled with the selection.
” Regarding the Parnas allegations , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ watch the interviews , but said from what he has read , “ it raises a whole host of new questions , even as it confirms so many of the reasons that the president was impeached.
” Deutch hopes that Republican senators will take an impartial approach to their role as jurors .
“ There 's been a lot of posturing in advance of this trial , ” Deutch said .
“ But , ultimately , they 're going to have a solemn role to play as jurors with a requirement to both @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and I hope that they ’ ll live up to that role.
” State of the Union timing : Pelosi said it ’ s up to Trump whether he wants to deliver his State of the Union address as scheduled on Feb. 4 if the impeachment trial is continuing then .
“ The president has some options , ” she said .
“ He could come that day , and we ’ re prepared to welcome him that day .
He could send a printed copy … or he could ask us to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ indicate a preference among the options she presented but she noted the timing of the trial “ should not be hastened because of the speech he wants to make to the country.
” Like Pelosi , McCarthy said the decision on SOTU should be up to Trump .
“ The trial could be completed by then , how weak the case is itself .
But I ’ ll leave it up to the president , ” the California Republican said in his weekly news conference .
He added that he thinks Trump should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ American people will be watching .

Democrats led by Minority Leader Sen. Charles E. Schumer reiterated they want to hear the testimony of four witnesses during the Senate impeachment trial of President Donald Trump.
“We expect we will have votes on these witnesses on Tuesday,” Schumer said Thursday.
Schumer went on to describe how when Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. entered the Senate chamber, members could “feel the weight of the moment,” and that he “saw members on both sides of the aisle visibly gulp.”
Schumer was joined on stage by Democratic Sens. Kamala Harris of California, Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, Chris Coons of Delaware and Connecticut’s Richard Blumenthal.
Schumer said he was “actually filled with anger” regarding the charges against Trump.