On the recordFebruary 5, 2020
I rise today to speak on the trial of President Trump. After information from more than a dozen witnesses, over a hundred questions, and days of oral arguments, I believe the House failed to prove its case for the two Articles of Impeachment. The House's story relies on too much speculation, guessing games and repetition. It fails to hold up under scrutiny. The House claims to have proven its case, but insists on more evidence. It was the House's responsibility to ensure it had developed a complete record of the evidence it needed to make its case, and it is not up to the Senate to start the process over again. There were contradictions in the House's case from the very beginning. The House counted on repetition to make its claims seem true, but often didn't provide the underlying evidence. For example, the House managers relied on telephone records for timing, but speculated on the content of the calls. The House managers claimed the President wanted to influence an election, but it is difficult to see how the House's rush to bring this case in such a haphazard manner is nothing more than an attempt to influence the 2020 election. The House managers asked the Senate to do additional witnesses in 1 week, which could mean the Senate would essentially have to start the trial all over. I not only can't call their efforts adequate, I have to say they have been entirely inadequate.…
