-I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.
-The Senate is back on Capitol Hill this week
as former President Trump's second impeachment trial
is looming and three new Democratic senators
have been sworn in.
-Mr. Ossoff, Mr.
Padilla, Mr. Warnock.
-The Democrats now have a Senate majority
with the arrivals of Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock
and newly inaugurated Vice President Harris
providing a tie-breaking vote.
Because the body itself will be split 50/50,
incoming Majority Leader Chuck Schumer
and outgoing Majority Leader Mitch McConnell
are negotiating a power-sharing agreement
that is likely to feature equal seats on committees
and mutual power to send tied committee votes to the floor.
That means, Democrats will control both the White House
and Congress for the first time in 10 years.
-And the Senate Democratic Majority is committed
to delivering the bold change
and help that Americans need and demand.
Help is on the way.
-The Senate control shift is a factor
that'll influence what happens next
with the article of impeachment against former President Trump.
The House impeached Trump a second time
for inciting an insurrection
before the Capitol riot on January 6th.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi hasn't given a timeline
when she'll send the article to the Senate for trial,
but once that happens, all other business
in the Chamber generally grinds to a halt
unless there is a deal to conduct other work.
-Any finer point on the timing for the articles of impeachment?
-No.
-No timeline.
-The Senate has yet to schedule a trial
to determine Trump's guilt or innocence.
McConnell said last week he would listen to arguments
presented during the Senate trial
before deciding how to vote on the impeachment charge.
-I had a discussion today with some folks
in the House and the Senate, and the question is,
"Can you go half-day on dealing with the impeachment
and half-day
getting my people nominated and confirmed in the Senate
as well as moving on the package?"
So that's my hope and expectation.
-Schumer outlined a packed agenda for the coming weeks.
-Second impeachment trial of Donald Trump,
the confirmation of President Biden's Cabinet
and other key officials,
and legislation to provide much-needed --
almost desperately needed -- COVID relief.
Again, that's three essential items of business.
-Despite an uncertain roadmap in the 50/50 Senate,
which is struggling to adopt its basic rules.
It would take 2/3 of the Senate to convict Trump,
so Republican senators would need to supply 17 votes
if all Democrats vote against Trump.
A majority is needed to bar him
from running for office in the future.
Historically, presidential impeachment
has been an all-consuming affair for the upper chamber,
threatening all other significant business.
Previous trials have lasted several weeks,
like Trump's first trial, which took 21 days.
While some Democratic lawmakers
said it would be a much shorter trial this time around --
-We don't need a long investigation
to know the President incited right-wing terrorists
to attack the Congress
to try to overturn Constitutional government.
-The House impeachment managers, who act as prosecutors,
may feel compelled to present witnesses and evidence
highlighting the President's role in the mob violence,
as well as legal arguments
rebutting the claim that formal officials cannot be convicted.
Until negotiations over Senate procedures are resolved,
many of Biden's Cabinet selections
could linger in limbo.
Democratic senators, like Klobuchar, remain optimistic.
-We should be able to juggle
having the nominations in the mornings
and doing the impeachment trial in the afternoons
and passing pandemic relief at night.
It shouldn't be that hard,
because the American people are doing it right now.
-The next several months will be very, very busy
and a very consequential period for the United States Senate.
Let us begin our work in earnest.