• 7 months ago
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) criticized Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer's (D-NY) move to dismiss the impeachment trial against Mayorkas.

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Transcript
00:00On this vote, the yeas are 49, the nays are 51.
00:07The motion is not agreed to.
00:09Madam President.
00:10The Republican leader is recognized.
00:13The Senate just swore an oath to do impartial justice according to the Constitution and
00:20the laws of our country.
00:23We swore to discharge a duty that is quite different from our normal work.
00:31As a court of impeachment, we're called not to speak, not to debate, but to listen, both
00:39to the case against the accused and to his defense.
00:46At this point, in any trial in the country, the prosecution presents the evidence of the
00:52case, counsel for the defense does the same, and the jury remains silent as it listens.
01:02This is what our rules require of us as well.
01:07But the Senate has not had the opportunity to perform this duty.
01:11The Senate will not hear the House managers present the details of their case against
01:16Secretary Mayorkas, that he willingly neglected the duties of his office and that he lied
01:22to Congress about the extent of that failure.
01:27Likewise, we will not hear the Secretary's representatives present the vigorous defense
01:34to which he's entitled.
01:38Our colleagues know that we are obligated to take these proceedings seriously.
01:45This is what our oath prescribes.
01:47It's what the history and precedent require.
01:51And I would urge each of our colleagues to consider that this is what the framers actually
01:56envisioned.
01:58The power of impeachment is one of the most delicate balances our constitutional system
02:02strikes with a portion of the American people's sovereign electoral authority.
02:10It purchases a safeguard against malpractice, and it gives the Senate the power and the
02:15duty to decide.
02:18This process must not be abused.
02:21It must not be short-circuited.
02:24History will not judge this moment well.
02:29Therefore I move to table the point of order and ask for the ayes and nays.
02:33Is there a sufficient second?
02:35There is a sufficient second.
02:36The clerk will call the roll.

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