House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) continues to refuse to send the articles of impeachment to the Senate.
Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) is tired of waiting and is now recommending Majority Leader McConnell (R-KY) amend the rules to get the trial started.
It’s Only a Senate Rule
According to our Constitution, once the House votes, the impeachment lies in the hands of the Senate.
There is nothing at all in the Constitution requiring the House to transmit those documents to the Senate in order to proceed.
This is actually a Senate rule and as such, it can be amended or changed by the current sitting members in the Senate.
Senator Graham is suggesting that take place in order to move this process along.
Graham stated, “If we don’t get the articles this week, then we need to take matters in our own hands and change the rules.
“Deem them to be delivered to the Senate.”
He then added, “My goal is to start this trial in the next coming days, not let Nancy Pelosi take over the Senate.”
Changing the Rules
The Senate can change rules with 51 votes.
Right now, Republicans hold 53 seats, which would give them two seats to spare.
There is little doubt someone like Senator Romney (R-UT) would vote against the measure, and there may be a few more out there, so this would be a risky venture at best.
If the measure failed, it will give the Dems more fodder to use against Republicans.
Even if it managed to pass, Democrats would accuse Republicans of changing the rules to protect Trump (even though they would be voting to move the impeachment along).
Pelosi has been adamant she will only release the documents when the Senate trial rules have been revealed and they are to her liking, which McConnell called a non-starter.
