Sep 30, 2019 - Politics & Policy

McConnell says Senate will put Trump on trial if House votes to impeach

Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said on CNBC Monday that the Senate would have "no choice" but to put President Trump on trial if the House votes to pass articles of impeachment.

"Well, under the Senate rules, we're required to take it up if the House does go down that path, and we'll follow the Senate rules ... It's a Senate rule related to impeachment that would take 67 votes to change, so I would have no choice but to take it up. How long you're on it is a whole different matter, but I would have no choice but to take it up, based on a Senate rule on impeachment."

— McConnell

Why it matters: McConnell previously said in March that the Senate would take up impeachment if articles passed the House, but this is the first time he has confirmed that point since House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced a formal impeachment inquiry over the Trump-Ukraine scandal. There was speculation that McConnell would refuse to put Trump on trial.

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Biden confidants see VP choices narrowing to Harris and Rice

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Confidants of Joe Biden believe his choices for vice president have narrowed to Sen. Kamala Harris and Susan Rice — and would be surprised if he picks anyone else.

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The big picture: Perhaps 80 million Americans will vote early, by mail or in person, Tom Bonier, CEO of TargetSmart, a Democratic political data firm, tells Axios. That's going to set up more of an Election Season than an Election Day — and increase the odds of national turmoil over the vote count.

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Exclusive: Inside McCarthy's new GOP messaging platform

House GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.). Photo: Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images

House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) has given his GOP colleagues new marching orders for stump speeches between now and November, as incumbents worry about how President Trump's own challenges may strain their re-election bids.

Driving the news: McCarthy delivered a PowerPoint presentation to the GOP conference in person last Thursday at the Capitol Visitor Center, with several members joining via Zoom, lawmakers and aides familiar with the gathering tell Axios.