# Nancy should hold on to Articles of Impeachment **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [December 19, 2019, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nancy-should-hold-on-to-articles-of-impeachment/845079 "2019-12-19T14:27:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Clu-Me-In](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@Clu-Me-In](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clu-Me-In)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2019, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nancy-should-hold-on-to-articles-of-impeachment/845079/1 "2019-12-19T14:27:30Z")
Nancy Pelosi should not give the Senate the Articles of Impeachment until the Senate Majority leader either recuses himself or recants his statement that he will not be impartial. ---
**Author:** ![GreysonCarlisle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a87d85/32.png) [@GreysonCarlisle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreysonCarlisle)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2019, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nancy-should-hold-on-to-articles-of-impeachment/845079/2 "2019-12-19T14:31:32Z")
Or until after the 2020 election. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2019, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nancy-should-hold-on-to-articles-of-impeachment/845079/3 "2019-12-19T14:44:46Z")
I think Ms Pelosi is an intelligent, savvy politician. I’m comfortable with her analyzing the situation and doing what she thinks is best. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2019, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nancy-should-hold-on-to-articles-of-impeachment/845079/4 "2019-12-19T14:51:34Z")
> [@Clu-Me-In](#): > > Nancy Pelosi should not give the Senate the Articles of Impeachment until the Senate Majority leader either recuses himself or recants his statement that he will not be impartial. Impeachment is inherently a political exercise. Has either side been impartial? ---
**Author:** ![Clu-Me-In](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@Clu-Me-In](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clu-Me-In)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2019, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nancy-should-hold-on-to-articles-of-impeachment/845079/5 "2019-12-19T14:54:59Z")
Impeachment is a trial. The Senators swear oaths to be impartial as presctibed in the Constitution. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2019, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nancy-should-hold-on-to-articles-of-impeachment/845079/6 "2019-12-19T15:05:27Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > I think Ms Pelosi is an intelligent, savvy politician. I’m comfortable with her analyzing the situation and doing what she thinks is best. I agree with this. She knows what she’s doing, and there’s no one I’d rather have making these kind of decisions than her. ---
**Author:** ![Icarus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icarus/32/72_2.png) [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2019, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nancy-should-hold-on-to-articles-of-impeachment/845079/7 "2019-12-19T15:12:51Z")
> [@Clu-Me-In](#): > > Nancy Pelosi should not give the Senate the Articles of Impeachment until the Senate Majority leader either recuses himself or recants his statement that he will not be impartial. So you are suggesting a condition that requires McConnell to take a specific action, and if he does not take that action then Impeachment does not go forward. Hmmm, what do we know about McConnell and his history of taking action that forwards any Democratic Party initiative? ---
**Author:** ![Fotheringay-Phipps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/d9b06d/32.png) [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2019, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nancy-should-hold-on-to-articles-of-impeachment/845079/8 "2019-12-19T15:14:52Z")
> [@Clu-Me-In](#): > > Nancy Pelosi should not give the Senate the Articles of Impeachment until the Senate Majority leader either recuses himself or recants his statement that he will not be impartial. Perhaps someone can explain what her leverage is here. Suppose McConnell says “OK, in that case there’s nothing for us to do so we’ll go back to other business, like approving judicial nominations. If you ever get around to sending us some articles of impeachment, we’ll deal with it then”. Now what? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2019, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nancy-should-hold-on-to-articles-of-impeachment/845079/9 "2019-12-19T15:20:12Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > Impeachment is inherently a political exercise. Has either side been impartial? So you are o.k. with Republicans openly stating they will break their oath? ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2019, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nancy-should-hold-on-to-articles-of-impeachment/845079/10 "2019-12-19T15:20:37Z")
> [@Fotheringay-Phipps](#): > > Perhaps someone can explain what her leverage is here. > > Suppose McConnell says “OK, in that case there’s nothing for us to do so we’ll go back to other business, like approving judicial nominations. If you ever get around to sending us some articles of impeachment, we’ll deal with it then”. Now what? Presumably, her leverage is that McConnell wants to get this over and done with (according to his public statements, anyway). And presumably, certain times would be more or less advantageous to Trump (and McConnell) to do the Senate trial, however they do it. But we’ll see. I presume she has a plan, because generally she’s been so good at this stuff for the last few years. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2019, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nancy-should-hold-on-to-articles-of-impeachment/845079/11 "2019-12-19T15:30:48Z")
Is there anything in the law that would disqualify a Senator from serving as a juror during an impeachment trial, the same way a juror can be disqualified for breaking rules a normal trial? I know that if you state publicly at a regular trial that you intend to break the oath made when you are sworn in and/or tell the public before the trial how you intend to vote there is no way in hell you won’t be disqualified, so what is the deal with this trial? ---
**Author:** ![Clu-Me-In](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@Clu-Me-In](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clu-Me-In)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2019, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nancy-should-hold-on-to-articles-of-impeachment/845079/12 "2019-12-19T15:31:44Z")
I think Nancy needs to ask the SCOTUS to decide if McConnell and Lindsey Graham are fit to be a members of the jury. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2019, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nancy-should-hold-on-to-articles-of-impeachment/845079/13 "2019-12-19T15:34:24Z")
I don’t necessarily agree that the process should be held to the same standards as a criminal trial, but it either should or shouldn’t. It’s hypocritical to complain that the House deviated from the standards of a criminal investigation (whether it did or didn’t) but then not hold the Senate to the same standards. ---
**Author:** ![Fotheringay-Phipps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/d9b06d/32.png) [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2019, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nancy-should-hold-on-to-articles-of-impeachment/845079/14 "2019-12-19T15:36:24Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Presumably, her leverage is that McConnell wants to get this over and done with (according to his public statements, anyway). My understanding is that he wants it “over and done with” in the sense that he doesn’t want the impeachment itself to occupy the Senate for a long time and detract from other business. But if Pelosi puts impeachment on hold, then he can turn to other business now. > [@](#): > > And presumably, certain times would be more or less advantageous to Trump (and McConnell) to do the Senate trial, however they do it. I’m not sure that’s true anymore. If impeachment was a big political winner for either side, then I see the timing as being a big deal. But right now it looks like it’s not moving the needle that much (very slight edge to Trump, if anything at all), so I don’t see timing as being a big deal. In addition, if Pelosi holds on to the articles for a while and then releases it at a time thought to be politically advantageous to her, this will give cover to McConnell to do likewise, and delay the trial to a time more advantageous to him. ---
**Author:** ![Clu-Me-In](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@Clu-Me-In](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clu-Me-In)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2019, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nancy-should-hold-on-to-articles-of-impeachment/845079/15 "2019-12-19T15:40:42Z")
Then why is the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court the presiding Judge? ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2019, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nancy-should-hold-on-to-articles-of-impeachment/845079/16 "2019-12-19T15:47:22Z")
> [@Fotheringay-Phipps](#): > > In addition, if Pelosi holds on to the articles for a while and then releases it at a time thought to be politically advantageous to her, this will give cover to McConnell to do likewise, and delay the trial to a time more advantageous to him. Delay gets us closer not only to the 2020 election in November, but the summer SCOTUS term when there’s a very good chance Trump will lose his suits to block his tax returns and DeutschBank financial docs. I think McConnell would really, really prefer to keep impeachment as far away from those bombshells as possible. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2019, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nancy-should-hold-on-to-articles-of-impeachment/845079/17 "2019-12-19T15:48:02Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Is there anything in the law that would disqualify a Senator from serving as a juror during an impeachment trial, the same way a juror can be disqualified for breaking rules a normal trial? I know that if you state publicly at a regular trial that you intend to break the oath made when you are sworn in and/or tell the public before the trial how you intend to vote there is no way in hell you won’t be disqualified, so what is the deal with this trial? The Senators are not jurors: > **[When a chief justice reminded senators in an impeachment trial that they were...](https://theconversation.com/when-a-chief-justice-reminded-senators-in-an-impeachment-trial-that-they-were-not-jurors-128984)** > > Democrats blasted Senate leader Mitch McConnell for saying the GOP would run an impeachment trial as President Trump wished. But senators are not held to a juror’s neutrality standard during a trial. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2019, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nancy-should-hold-on-to-articles-of-impeachment/845079/18 "2019-12-19T15:49:47Z")
> [@Fotheringay-Phipps](#): > > My understanding is that he wants it “over and done with” in the sense that he doesn’t want the impeachment itself to occupy the Senate for a long time and detract from other business. But if Pelosi puts impeachment on hold, then he can turn to other business now.I’m not sure that’s true anymore. If impeachment was a big political winner for either side, then I see the timing as being a big deal. But right now it looks like it’s not moving the needle that much (very slight edge to Trump, if anything at all), so I don’t see timing as being a big deal. > > In addition, if Pelosi holds on to the articles for a while and then releases it at a time thought to be politically advantageous to her, this will give cover to McConnell to do likewise, and delay the trial to a time more advantageous to him. McConnell cant do that. What do you think about McConnell openly stating he will break his oath? ---
**Author:** ![Clu-Me-In](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@Clu-Me-In](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clu-Me-In)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2019, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nancy-should-hold-on-to-articles-of-impeachment/845079/19 "2019-12-19T15:51:23Z")
Exactly!! ---
**Author:** ![puddleglum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puddleglum/32/137_2.png) [@puddleglum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puddleglum)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2019, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nancy-should-hold-on-to-articles-of-impeachment/845079/20 "2019-12-19T15:56:00Z")
\_\_ [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nancy-should-hold-on-to-articles-of-impeachment/845079.md?page=2)