On the recordJanuary 30, 2020
Mr. Chief Justice, on behalf of myself and Senator Klobuchar, I send a question to the desk directed to both parties. The CHIEF JUSTICE. Thank you. The question from Senator Van Hollen is to both parties. The President's counsel will go first: In his response to an earlier question this evening, Mr. Sekulow cited individuals like the Bidens as being ``not irrelevant to our case.'' Are you opposed to having the Chief Justice make the initial determinations regarding the relevance of documents and witnesses, particularly as the Senate could disagree with the Chief Justice's ruling by a majority vote? The President's counsel is first. Mr. Counsel SEKULOW. Mr. Chief Justice, again, to make our position clear, we think, constitutionally, that would not be the appropriate way to go. Again, no disrespect to the Chief Justice at all, who is presiding here as the Presiding Officer, but our view is that, if there are issues that have to be resolved on constitutional matters, that it should be done in the appropriate way. You have Senate rules that govern that, as to what you would do, and then there is--you know, if litigation were to be necessary for a particular issue, that would have to be looked at. But this idea that we can short circuit the system, which is what they have been doing for 3 months, is not something we are willing to go with. I have said that. I said it all day yesterday.…
