I presume nobody in the USA expect the Senate Republicans to convict their own man, so this was always about going through the motions. However the process is still important, and the failure to call material witnesses and documents, the failure to act impartially, and the extraordinary choices Trump made in the selection of his defence team will all not sit well with any who value the US Constitutions checks and balances which do not bestow absolute power on a President however "democratically" elected.

The use of the excuse that impeachment in an election year is inappropriate is reminiscent of the time the Republican Senate refused to even discuss President Obama's Supreme Court nominees so that they could appoint their own conservative choices after his term had expired. Again, another abuse of process. There is nothing in the Constitution preventing either impeachment of Supreme Court appointments in an election year. These processes are constitutionally separate and distinct.

BTW Could Trump have stood for election in November even if he was convicted and replaced by Pence, or does impeachment disbar him from participation in a future election?

Index of Frank's Diaries