On the day the Trump impeachment trial started in the Senate, we contacted the three Democrats who are running against Mitch McConnell, asking them for statements on his actions so far. Here are their statements.
* * * * *
Amy McGrath statement
Sen. McConnell is failing to uphold the oath he swore to be fair and impartial, and conduct a full and fair trial that includes subpoenas to provide documents and witness testimony. No one is above the law, and Sen. McConnell’s job is to hold any president accountable for actions that undermine our rule of law and put our nation at risk from foreign interference in our democracy. Kentuckians deserve a senator who will put country over party, and do the job he was elected to do.
Mike Broihier statement
From a few days to many weeks, the eyes of America will be on one man. Whether evidence is produced and examined in an orderly, thorough, and unbiased manner is up to Mitch McConnell. Whether the assessments of our nation’s law enforcement and intelligence agencies are accepted as fact or weighed evenly with conspiracy theories is up to Mitch McConnell. Whether witnesses are treated with respect and dignity is up to Mitch McConnell. And, whether the jurors are led to vote solely on evidence and testimony placed before them or toward a predetermined conclusion is up to Mitch McConnell.
This is the moment where McConnell’s character and fitness for office will be laid bare. If the man has the welfare of our republic at heart, or even concerns for his place in history, there is no doubt how this trial will unfold. Rarely has history given a man the chance to redeem his lifelong intransigence, duplicity, and acquisitiveness. And all eyes will be on him.
Charles Booker statement
Mitch McConnell is doing everything possible to rush the trial and prevent the facts from coming out. Unfortunately, if you’re familiar with Mitch’s career and behavior, this pattern of obstruction is not out of character. Mitch McConnell has been outspoken about his contempt for upholding his constitutional duty to serve as an impartial juror. Before the trial began, he went on TV to clarify that he is coordinating with the White House’s legal counsel on every step of the trial.
The President’s actions are indefensible, which is why Mitch is not even bothering to defend them. Instead, he’s blocking witnesses and blocking evidence. He’s cramming Democratic testimony into just 24 hours, forcing impeachment managers to rush to present evidence. This is not how someone behaves when they believe the President is innocent.
–30–
Note: The order of the statements was determined using a RAND() function in a spreadsheet, equivalent to a random drawing.