WASHINGTON, D.C., January 21, 2020 – As the Senate impeachment trial of President Donald Trump gets underway, Alliance for Justice Senior Fellow William Yeomans outlines the importance of allowing for evidence and witnesses during the trial.
“Slipping through the looking glass, McConnell wants to have a trial first and then decide whether to hear evidence,” Yeomans explains. “Yet, a trial, by definition, is a proceeding in which the finder of fact first hears and evaluates evidence.”
Further laying out the expectations for such a trial, Yeomans points out that “there is no reason the Senate cannot hear additional relevant evidence in the Senate to prove or disprove” the House’s articles of impeachment. Indeed, if there were exculpatory evidence vindicating the President, “Surely, the Senate would consider it.”
Senate Republicans have already indicated — with a party-line vote — their willingness to reject the introduction of new evidence prior to the trial beginning. As Yeomans warns, “Each new revelation has heightened pressure on Republican Senators to explain why they would proceed to a final judgment without receiving specific, obviously relevant evidence.”
Read Yeomans’ full column about the importance of impeachment trial witnesses here.
Yeomans Work focuses on the challenges to the justice system in the era of Trump. Bill Yeomans is available for media interviews. His opinions are his own and do not necessarily represent the positions of Alliance for Justice. For booking inquiries, contact Zack Ford, Press Secretary, at Zack.Ford@afj.org or at 202-464-7370.