Pelosi on Wednesday selected seven House members to serve as impeachment managers in the Senate trial, including Schiff (D-Calif.) and Nadler (D-N.Y.).
The group will argue that Trump abused the power of his office, obstructed Congress and should be removed from office. Countering that argument will be Trump’s defense team, which is expected to be led by White House counsel Pat Cipollone.
Besides Schiff and Nadler, Pelosi named as managers Reps. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), Sylvia Garcia (D-Tex.), Val Demings (D-Fla.), Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.) and Jason Crow (D-Colo.).
Of those, the one who I am most excited to see is Jeffries. He was amazing, direct, completely prepared, and succinct during the earlier House procedures.
Cheryl Rofer
Jeffries is excellent. He was quiet during the House hearings, but every question I heard from him was excellent. I particularly liked Val Demings. And, of course, Adam Schiff.
Nadler is not Schiff, but he’s chair of the Judiciary Committee. He’ll be fine.
JPL
@Cheryl Rofer: I thought Val Demmings was excellent during the hearings. All of them are good choices, now let’s hope that Mitch doesn’t just dismiss the case.
After the document drop last night, I’m sure he’s trying to lessen the damage.
germy
Val Demings is great. I like her questioning.
But here’s what I don’t understand: Who will be questioned? I sort of assumed there’d be no witnesses called for this thing. So do they all make statements to each other and then vote?
MisterForkbeard
Nadler is fine. Schiff is good. The rest of the names are all good choices, though I don’t have much of an impression of Jason Crow.
?BillinGlendaleCA
@germy: I guess the managers will make their case, White House counsel will counter it, and then the Senators will vote.
MattF
@JPL: Flat-out dismissal of the charges doesn’t appear to be a live option in the Senate.
Betty Cracker
Thrilled about Demings. She’s been in my “should run for governor of Florida” file for a while now.
SiubhanDuinne
This is a fine panel of impeachment managers. Nancy, as usual, did a good job.
Meanwhile, the entire Russian government (excepting Putin) has resigned, per CNN:
https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/15/europe/russian-government-resigns-vladimir-putin-reforms-intl/index.html
Cheryl Rofer
@Betty Cracker: This is an opportunity for Demings to get more public recognition, along with the good job she will do on questioning. That’s the case for Jeffries, too.
I don’t know much about Crow but think he’s another young one?
Barbara
@JPL: I can’t prove anything but I am guessing Pelosi’s delay was intended to give various Senators the opportunity to force McConnell to back off the idea that charges could just be “dismissed.” I don’t know whether the Parnas document drop was known to House Intelligence committee members in advance, but it seems awfully fortuitous for the impeachment charges to come the same day that a big trove of damaging documents just came into public view.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@Betty Cracker: that’s interesting– You think she might?
Bill Arnold
@SiubhanDuinne:
Just shuffling the constitution so that Putin can “serve” another term.
germy
@SiubhanDuinne:
So that explains why greenwald has been tweeting in Portuguese.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@Cheryl Rofer: 40 year old attorney and ex-Ranger, three tours and a Bronze star, from (I believe) a blue-trending swing district in CO. I wonder what role his military service played in NP’s thinking. “Unpatriotic? Fuck you, Bonespurs”
(yeah I looked it up on Wiki but the cut’n’paste was an unholy mess)
JGabriel
It’s an interesting mix of experience and newcomers:
Rep., Years in the House
———————————–
I don’t know much about Demings, Garcia, and Crow. Do they bring special skills or experience to the table? Is Pelosi trying to make sure there will be institutional knowledge of impeachment procedures going forward after she and the other senior members have left? Other reasons?
Anyone?
germy
https://www.npr.org/2020/01/14/795929276/here-are-the-lawyers-who-will-defend-president-trump-against-impeachment
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@JGabriel: just going by what I’ve seen in hearings, Demmings is a skilled and authoritative questioner. No rambling or pontificating. Not an attorney, but a long career in law enforcement– 27 years with the Orlando PD, from beat cop to Chief of Police, retiring to run for Congress (yeah, Wiki again).
TaMara (HFG)
@MisterForkbeard: Crow is a veteran who beat a well liked Republican in a strong red district for his seat. He’s well-spoken and I’ll be interested to see how he does. I suspect he’ll do well. The remainder of the team is outstanding.
JGabriel
via germy:
“I can’t comment about whether or not I’ve agreed to join …”?
Sounds more like he’s saying, “I can’t remember whether I said I’d join or not. I’m getting really old, you know. Can’t keep up with 16 year olds in bed anymore. (pause) Did I mention Trump asked me to join his legal team? I can’t remember whether I said I’d join or not. I’m getting really old, you know. Can’t keep up with … wait, did I already say this?”
Elizabelle
@JGabriel: I rather love that Jason Crow is from Colorado, and will be a clear counterpoint to their Senator, Corey Gardner, who is up for re-election in a tight year.
Gardner won’t even have to put a finger into the wind. He will see how Crow’s involvement is received.
MattF
@germy: The $64 question is whether Giuliani will get on the defense team. I’m in favor. Since the outcome of the trial is known, why not have some entertainment?
JGabriel
@Jim, Foolish Literalist, @Elizabelle: : Danke.
germy
@MattF: That might be epic.
kindness
Looks like a good team. I’m glad Nancy didn’t take the bait and name Amash to it. He may be an “Independent” now but he’s really just a conservative Never Trumper Republican.
MattF
@kindness: Amash would not have been a team player, media would have focused on him. A bad idea.
NotMax
Would have liked to see Katie Porter selected, but not about to press the point.
Betty Cracker
@Jim, Foolish Literalist: I’ve seen no evidence that she’s interested, but like most Florida Democrats, I’m always on the lookout for a good statewide prospect. :)
H.E.Wolf
Jason Crow was supported by Balloon Juice in 2018! He was included in the 1st of the 3 fundraising efforts, and replaced Republican Mike Coffman.
All told, we supported ~ 39 winning candidates in 2018. (Katie Porter is another one of our victories.)
ET
Hasn’t the invite for the State of the Union (Feb 4) already been sent out? Can take a guess about what he is going to rail/crow about.
hells littlest angel
I think Val Demings has a great career ahead of her.
paper
Sylvia Garcia should be okay. She was a long-time municipal court judge in Houston before working her way up the ladder – city controller, county commissioner, state rep, House rep. Each step, she replaced a former local heavyweight. She knows how politics is played.
J R in WV
I also miss Katie Porter from the manager list… she tends to be a great questioner, with no beating around the bush, no acceptance of BS answers.
But the others I know of, Jeffreys, Schiff and Nadler have been good when interviewed on TV, and Schiff was a great questioner in all the times I’ve seen him dealing with hostile witnesses under strict House rules.
laura
This is a embarassment of riches and one could infer that Madame Speaker is building a deep bench of leaders with youth and experience right in front of us.
arrieve
@Cheryl Rofer: Good choices all. I’m a big fan of Jeffries. Years ago, in my former job, I used to train new attorneys in how to use our firm’s systems, and I taught Jeffries. I remember him clearly when most of the others never made any impression, and only partly because of the truly terrible suit he was wearing. There was something about him that made me want to see him succeed, and to feel confident that he would.
FlyingToaster
@NotMax: Re: Katie Porter
If the charges included the emoluments mess, I’m certain she’d be one of the managers.
However, since the Turtle ain’t gonna call witnesses unless the Rethuglican Senators force him to, it’s just as well to hold additional charges until after this performance is over.
Then impeach Trump again, on all new charges.
Rinse, repeat until November.
Of course, the Parnas dox might convince the Senate to call witnessess… nah, who am I kidding?
BobS
Katie Porter would have been a great addition, as would have Raja Krishnamoorthi.