'A complete sham': Anger grows over report GOP senators met with Trump to map out 'rigged' impeachment trial
News from The Washington Post that top White House officials held a clandestine meeting Thursday with Republican Senators to map out a plan to limit the Senate impeachment trial while President Trump has been secretly "courting" Senate Republicans in an effort to gauge and gain their loyalty has many angered and alarmed.
The House is expected to pass articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump, which would require the Senate to hold an impartial trial, over which the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court would preside. It very much is a legal proceeding with historic consequences for the future of America's democracy.
Republicans appear to not have grasped this fact, not the gravity of their constitutional duties.
Many Americans are growing angered as a result. Some are calling the Senate impeachment trial "rigged" before it has even begun. Others are pointing out that this is akin to jurors meeting with the "defendant to discuss how long they think they have to let the trial go on."
"Juries don’t collude with the accused criminals they’re judging," one person on Twitter said. "Only collusion, only obstruction," said another.
Take a look at the responses:
Meanwhile, the fact that the target of an investigation is conspiring with the very public servants who will serve as jurors on his trial is shocking to some.
I'm no judge or lawyer, but I don't think the person on trial is supposed to have their lawyers and friends meet wi… https://t.co/w4eAoANeLY— Avi Bueno (@Avi Bueno) 1574371214
Trump will be controlling his own impeachment trial in the Senate https://t.co/YbcSHauWRe— Individual-1 (@Individual-1) 1574370484
“A group of Republican senators and senior White House officials met privately … to map out a strategy.” Well, tha… https://t.co/HbhzG0j7eN— Greg Greene (parody) (@Greg Greene (parody)) 1574371522
In case you accidentally believe the lies of @senatemajldr & @SenateGOP that Senators should be impartial juror… https://t.co/iSHCWQwNtg— BiblioRomancer (@BiblioRomancer) 1574370634
Only collusion, only obstruction. https://t.co/F3SuUzEx9v— Nik Shah 🏡 (@Nik Shah 🏡) 1574374335
Well now we know. Trump has rigged the trial even tho no impeachment trial has been recommended. https://t.co/pMmuEJVrhC— Tina Routhier (@Tina Routhier) 1574371507
WTF? The White House is discussing Trump’s trial with the senator/jurors? #impeachment White House and Republicans… https://t.co/9mSMa1uE9L— @mbalter — investigations and commentary (@@mbalter — investigations and commentary) 1574370752
Republicans: [denounce entirely routine closed-door depositions] Also Republicans: [meet behind closed doors with T… https://t.co/gN04a54xcZ— The Moscow Project (@The Moscow Project) 1574374139
jurors meet with defendant to discuss how long they think they have to let the trial go on before hanging the jury. https://t.co/qc6zTbaPyb— johnbrummett (@johnbrummett) 1574374821
WHY does the @WhiteHouse have any say in a trial meant to hold #SCPOTUS @realdonaldtrump accountable for impeachabl… https://t.co/kHvrIdl2oZ— John Zajaros - Professor Z (@John Zajaros - Professor Z) 1574377091
