Republican senators are eyeing a measure that would change Senate rules allowing them to dismiss the impeachment charges against the president if Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi continues to refuse to transmit the articles of impeachment to the upper chamber.
Sen. Josh Hawley, Missouri Republican, introduced the measure Monday and accused Ms. Pelosi of obstructing a Senate trial, which is to occur after the House votes to impeach a sitting president under the U.S. Constitution.
“Speaker Pelosi started this bogus impeachment by claiming President Trump was an urgent ’threat to democracy’ who had to be removed now. But after a bipartisan vote against the articles in the House, and with the public opposed to the Democrats’ partisan games, Pelosi has changed her tune,” Mr. Hawley said.
“The Constitution gives the Senate sole power to adjudicate articles of impeachment, not the House. If Speaker Pelosi is afraid to try her case, the articles should be dismissed for failure to prosecute and Congress should get back to doing the people’s business,” he added.
Prior to leaving for the holidays, the House voted to impeach Mr. Trump, charging him with obstruction of Congress and abuse of power over his July phone call with the Ukrainian president where he requested a corruption probe into a political rival, former Vice President Joe Biden, whose son Hunter Biden sat on the board of a Ukrainian energy company, Burisma, while Mr. Biden was in office — despite lacking expertise in the industry.
Mr. Hawley’s resolution would deem articles of impeachment transmitted to the Senate if the House fails to do so within 25 calendar days, according to the text of the measure. A senator then could introduce a motion to dismiss the articles “with prejudice for failure by the House of Representatives to prosecute.”
The full Senate would have to vote on dismissal, which would require a majority.
Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who controls the chamber floor, has not signaled if he’s inclined to support Mr. Hawley’s resolution.
It has been 20 calendar days since Ms. Pelosi’s chamber voted to impeach Mr. Trump on Dec. 18. No Republicans joined the House Democrats on the impeachment vote.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee, suggested Sunday the Senate should take control during the impeachment impasse. Though, Mr. Graham is not listed on Mr. Hawley’s measure as an original cosponsor.
“What I would do, if she continues to refuse to send the articles as required by the Constitution, I would work with Senator McConnell to change the rules of the Senate so we could start the trial without her, if necessary,” the South Carolina Republican said on “Sunday Morning Futures.”
Mr. Graham said he would give Ms. Pelosi days — not weeks — before the Senate takes control of the issue.
Ms. Pelosi has refused to transmit the articles of impeachment, saying she wants Republicans who control the upper chamber to guarantee a fair trial.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, New York Democrat, has demanded witness testimony at the hearing, but Mr. McConnell has said the chamber should stick with the same rules and procedures as the impeachment trial of President Clinton in 1999.
The issue of whether to call witnesses during Mr. Clinton’s trial was decided after senators heard from both House prosecutors bringing the charges and the president’s legal team’s response.
Mr. Hawley’s measure has 10 original co-sponsors: Indiana Sen. Mike Braun, Florida Sen. Rick Scott, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, Tennessee Sen. Marsha Blackburn, Montana Sen. Steve Daines, Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton, Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso, Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst, Oklahoma Sen. Jim Inhofe, and Georgia Sen. David Perdue.
• Alex Swoyer can be reached at aswoyer@washingtontimes.com.
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