President Trump said Friday he wants a trial in the Senate to clear him of partisan impeachment accusations.
“I want a trial,” Mr. Trump said on “Fox & Friends.” “There should never be an impeachment. But assuming these people [House Democrats] are as sleazy as they are … I want to see Adam Schiff testify about the whistleblower, who’s a fake whistleblower. The one who I want to testify most is ’Shifty Schiff.’ “
Mr. Schiff, California Democrat and chairman of the House intelligence committee, said his staff had contact with the whistleblower before the person filed his complaint against Mr. Trump.
But the president said he still isn’t expecting to be impeached in the House.
“I think it’s very hard for them to impeach me when they have absolutely nothing,” Mr. Trump said. “You’ve seen the polls, I’m through the roof. If you look at those swing states, I’m way up in every one of them because of this impeachment thing.”
Senior White House officials and Senate Republicans agreed on Thursday the Senate should hold a full trial if the House impeaches the president, according to people familiar with the matter, believing that a trial will show the weakness of Democrats’ case. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Kentucky Republican, has argued against a quick dismissal of the case in the GOP-led Senate.
Mr. Trump also said he wants Hunter Biden, son of former Vice President Joseph R. Biden, a 2020 Democratic presidential candidate, to be called as a witness in a Senate trial. The trial would likely be held in January.
• Dave Boyer can be reached at dboyer@washingtontimes.com.
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