
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) announced Wednesday who will serve as the House Democrat impeachment managers in the Senate impeachment trial of President Trump.
Pelosi named House Intelligence Committee chairman Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA), House Judiciary Committee Chairman Rep. Jerry Nadler, along with Reps. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), Val Demings (D-FL), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Jason Crow (D-CO), and Sylvia Garcia (D-TX). Schiff will take on the role of lead impeachment manager.
“Today is an important day,” said Pelosi at a Capitol Hill press conference. “The emphasis is making the strongest possible case to protect and defend our constitution, to seek the truth for the American people.”
A House vote to send the articles to the Senate is scheduled for early Wednesday afternoon. The measure is expected to pass. If it does, the Senate trial is expected to begin early next week, Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell said.
Ahead of the historic trial, the White House is finalizing the legal team that will defend Trump.
Jay Sekulow, Trump’s personal attorney, said he’s part of a legal team headed by White House counsel Pat Cipollone that will defend the president against two impeachable charges that were passed by the House last month. The articles of impeachment — accusing Trump of abusing his power and obstructing Congress — have been held for weeks by House Democrats, who said they first wanted to see a trial blueprint from Senate leaders to ensure a fair process.
In the meantime, President Trump has suggested for the articles to be dismissed instead of the Senate going ahead with a trial.
“Why should I have the stigma of Impeachment attached to my name when I did NOTHING wrong? Read the Transcripts! A totally partisan Hoax, never happened before. House Republicans voted 195-0, with three Dems voting with the Republicans. Very unfair to tens of millions of voters!” the president tweeted over the weekend.
The UPI contributed to this report.
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