Kelly Loeffler: “I send a question to the desk on behalf of myself and Senators Hawley, Cruz, Perdue, Gardner, Lankford, Hoeven, Toomey…”

“I send a question to the desk on behalf of myself and Senators Hawley, Cruz, Perdue, Gardner, Lankford, Hoeven, Toomey, Scott of Florida, Portman, and Fischer. The CHIEF JUSTICE. Thank you. The question from Senator Loeffler and the other Senators is for the counsel of the President: As reported by Politico, ``in January 1999, then-Sen Joe Biden argued strongly against deposing additional witnesses or seeking new evidence in a memo sent to fellow Democrats ahead of Bill Clinton's impeachment trial.'' Politico reports that Sen Schumer agreed with Biden. Why should the Biden rule not apply here? Mr. Counsel SEKULOW. Mr. Chief Justice, Members of the Senate, in a memorandum dated January 5, 1999, that is captioned ``Arguments in Support of Summary Impeachment Trial,'' Senator Biden discussed some history first regarding two Senate impeachment proceedings that were put forward in the Senate that were summarily decided. This is what he said: These two cases demonstrate that the Senate may dismiss articles of impeachment without holding a full trial or taking any evidence. Put another way, the Constitution does not impose on the Senate the duty to hold a trial. In fact, the Senate need not hold a trial even though the House wishes to present evidence and hold a full trial (Blount) and the elements of jurisdiction are present (English).…”