News: It's now Mitch's move

Thursday, January 14, 2021

It's now Mitch's move

Jan 14, 2021

With help from Olivia, Marianne and Melanie

ON TO THE SENATE — The biggest unknown in the House's impeachment of President Donald Trump was just how many Republicans would break ranks to condemn him for his incitement of a deadly assault on the U.S. Capitol. (The answer was 10.) Now, that same question hangs over the Senate, which returns to Washington Jan. 19 — one day before Joe Biden's inauguration as the 46th president.

Conventional wisdom dictates that the ultra-cautious, closely-divided Senate would avoid the dramatic step of convicting Trump — and disqualifying him from holding office in the future. But Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has, very intentionally, scrambled the calculus:

"[W]hile the press has been full of speculation, I have not made a final decision on how I will vote and I intend to listen to the legal arguments when they are presented to the Senate."

His statement follows reporting this week, first from the New York Times, that the GOP Senate leader believes Trump committed impeachable offenses.

Meanwhile, GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham, a top Trump ally, has been working to defuse impeachment furor in the Senate. Democrats will need 17 Republicans to join them to convict Trump. And even before the House impeachment, GOP Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska said she wants Trump "to resign. I want him out." Ben Sasse (R-Neb.) said "I will definitely consider whatever articles [the House] might move," and Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) said on Fox: "I do think the president committed impeachable offenses," but added, "I'm not sure it's desirable to attempt to force him out, what, a day or two or three prior to the day on which he's going to be finished anyway … so I'm not clear that's the best path forward."

Let the whip counting begin: https://politi.co/3i91K7I

MITCH SPEAKS: In a letter to his caucus, McConnell also shot down Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer's proposal to reconvene the Senate using emergency authorities. "Given the history, rules, and Senate precedents governing presidential impeachment trials, there has never been any chance that any fair or appropriate trial would conclude before President-elect Biden is sworn in," the Kentucky Republican wrote. "Whether it were to begin this week, next week, or later, the trial will not end until after the President has left office. This is simply a fact."

--BIDEN, meanwhile, is urging the Senate to confirm his Cabinet nominees while any impeachment trial is going on. https://politi.co/3ibP5AT

The most important thing to remember: There is an enormous amount about the attack on the Capitol that we don't know — the degree of coordination, whether the rioters had help within the Capitol, how Trump responded, specifically, to cries for help from the Capitol and why security forces were so unprepared. And investigators are clear: There is much more, shocking information to learn. To that point...

WATCH THIS SPACE — Thirty Democratic lawmakers have asked Capitol security officials for details on "tours" given by some lawmakers or aides on Jan. 5, the day before the violent riots. Rep. Mikie Sherrill of New Jersey has suggested they may have actually been used for "reconnaissance" by would-be insurrectionists who stormed the Capitol the next day. Now, these lawmakers want to know who let in the "suspicious" groups and whether any of their colleagues played a role in helping them case the Capitol — if that's in fact what they were doing. More on this developing situation: https://politi.co/2XzBQ3A

-Rep. Tim Ryan of Ohio held a press conference to update reporters on the House's investigation of security failures on Jan. 6 and didn't have much new to say. But he did voice a concern: "We're having a hell of a time getting information from Capitol Police leadership," he said, adding, "It's a black box over there."

HAPPENING TODAY - THE COVID-19 VACCINE ROLLOUT: What are the logistical challenges facing the coronavirus immunization campaign? Who is overseeing the process and working to overcome obstacles to ensure that vulnerable groups have access to the vaccine? Join POLITICO for a virtual discussion on the outgoing Trump administration's plan to prioritize lower-income, rural, and communities of color for vaccine distribution and what the Biden administration can do to streamline plans and fill in any gaps. REGISTER HERE.

GOOD MORNING! Welcome to this guest-authored Huddle, the play-by-play guide to all things Capitol Hill, on this Jan. 14, where we've discovered the only guide you'll need to track the Senate's impeachment trial. https://bit.ly/2XE8yRC

WEDNESDAY'S MOST CLICKED: Axios' scoop on Biden's inaugural committee returning former Sen. Barbara Boxer's donations over her registration as a foreign agent was a big winner.

BREAKING DOWN IMPEACHMENT — The scenes of destruction of the past week gave way Wednesday to images of a heavily fortified Capitol, jammed throughout with members of the National Guard, who rested on marble floors and posed for pictures in the complex's halls and statuaries. That was the backdrop as the House reconvened for Trump's impeachment. Some notable historical details:

-The single article of impeachment against Trump drew 232 votes of support. That's more than the 230 for Trump's previous impeachment for abuse of power, 229 for his impeachment on obstruction of Congress, 228 for Bill Clinton's impeachment for perjury and 221 for Clinton's impeachment on obstruction of justice.

-The vote was also the most bipartisan in history, with 10 Republicans joining Democrats. Five Democrats supported Clinton's impeachment, the most crossover support until Wednesday.

ODDEST STATEMENT OF THE DAY — The award goes to Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas), who explained his decision to oppose impeachment as a reluctant one that he very well might regret. "I truly fear there may be more facts that come to light that will put me on the wrong side of this debate," he said.

CLIP OF THE DAY — Rep. Cedric Richmond, incoming White House adviser to Biden, who reminded Republicans that the House warned a year earlier that Trump would commit new impeachable offenses. https://bit.ly/38EbN1C

FALLOUT — Now we wait. In the one-week lull before the Senate trial begins, authorities in Washington and all 50 state capitals are girding for renewed spasms of violence, Biden is preparing to take the oath of office and the weight of the House's actions are beginning to wash over the Capitol. It's likely falling heaviest on Rep. Liz Cheney, the House Republican Conference Chair who broke with the bulk of her party to support impeachment. Her forceful statement condemning Trump was referenced dozens of times by House Democrats during debate. Some flashpoints:

-John Katko (R-N.Y.), who also supported impeachment, is circulating a letter of support for Cheney.

-Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas), who opposed it, urged fellow detractors to back off Cheney as well.

-Rep. Ken Buck (R-Colo.) went after the entire GOP leadership, dinging Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and Minority Whip Steve Scalise for backing Trump's effort to overturn some election results and Cheney for supporting an impeachment he called "fatally flawed."

-Jim Jordan is pushing for Cheney to resign her leadership position.

-But Cheney remains defiant: "I'm not going anywhere. This is a vote of conscience," she told POLITICO in the Capitol.

NIGHT GUARD — The New York Post front captures a surreal scene on Capitol Hill, where hundreds of national guardsmen camped out amid a security surge. https://bit.ly/3byT6yd

And another searing image from the incomparable Erin Schaff of The New York Times: https://bit.ly/3oK3uHc

MORE ARRESTS — Last night, the Justice Department announced the arrest of two off-duty police officers from Rocky Mount, Va., for participating in the Capitol riots. The officers, Jacob Fracker and Thomas Robertson, face charges of entering a restricted building without permission and violent entry/disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds. Prosecutors say they were photographed making an "obscene gesture" in front of a statue of John Stark, a New Hampshire military leader during the American Revolution. More from the complaint:

"On Facebook, Fracker posted a comment that read, 'Lol to anyone who's possibly concerned about the picture of me going around... Sorry I hate freedom? …Not like I did anything illegal…y'all do what you feel you need to.' The post has since been deleted."

FINE LINE — Democrats and Republicans grumbled about the installation of metal detectors outside the House chamber this week, part of enhanced security measures taken after last week's assault on the Capitol. But it was a slew Republican lawmakers who repeatedly barreled past Capitol Police, refusing to submit to the magnetometers or wanding, occasionally getting into confrontations with officers who were following new directives to bar entry to those who aren't scanned. On Wednesday night, Speaker Nancy Pelosi indicated that she intends to impose steep fines — $5,000 for a first offense, $10,000 for a second — for any lawmaker who refuses to line up for the metal detectors.

TUNE IN TO NEW EPISODE OF GLOBAL TRANSLATIONS: Our Global Translations podcast, presented by Citi, examines the long-term costs of the short-term thinking that drives many political and business decisions. The world has long been beset by big problems that defy political boundaries, and these issues have exploded over the past year amid a global pandemic. This podcast helps to identify and understand the impediments to smart policymaking. Subscribe for Season Two, available now.

TRANSITIONS

Sean Coit is leaving the Hill after serving as a Senior Advisor and Communications Director to Sen. Chris Coons. He is now the VP Communications for the Philadelphia Flyers and Wells Fargo Center in Philly.

TODAY IN CONGRESS

The House is out Thursday.

The Senate is not in session until January 19.

TRIVIA

WEDNESDAY'S WINNER: Jonas Neumann was the first person to guess that Herbert Hoover and his wife spoke mandarin in the White House if they didn't want anyone to understand them.

TODAY'S QUESTION: From Jonas: Who were the first two brothers serving simultaneously in the House of Representatives?

The first person to correctly guess gets a mention in the next edition of Huddle. Send your answer to obeavers@politico.com.

GET HUDDLE emailed to your phone each morning.