Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell
Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellRomney on Trump election tactics: 'Difficult to imagine a worse, more undemocratic action' by president We need a new COVID-19 stimulus package now McConnell, Pelosi hunt for funding deal as shutdown deadline looms MORE (R-Ky.) says he will be paying attention to the Senate's business Wednesday instead of the first day of the House's public impeachment hearings.
McConnell is one of several Republican senators who said Tuesday that they don’t plan to watch the House's impeachment proceedings when they are televised this week.
“Tomorrow, I’m going to be paying attention to what we’re doing in the Senate,” McConnell said when asked if he would watch any of this week’s scheduled impeachment hearings.
Other members of Senate GOP leadership said they would tune out this week’s House hearings and would only pay attention to the arguments of House prosecutors after the House passes articles of impeachment, if the lower chamber in fact goes that far.
“I’ve got other things to do,” said Sen. John Cornyn
John CornynRomney: Consequences of Trump actions during lame-duck 'potentially more severe' than transition delay The Hill's Morning Report - Presented by the UAE Embassy in Washington, DC - Trump, Biden clash over transition holdup, pandemic plans President is wild card as shutdown fears grow MORE (R-Texas), an adviser to McConnell.
“I think it’s a political sideshow, and I’ve got more important things to do,” he said, indicating he would wait until the matter comes to the Senate before giving it his attention. “The House has its job to do, and then when it comes to us, that’s when our job kicks in.”
Senate Republican Policy Committee Chairman Roy Blunt
Roy Dean BluntMcConnell wants deal this week on fiscal 2021 spending figures Graham becomes center of Georgia storm Republicans start turning the page on Trump era MORE (R-Mo.) said, “I don’t see any time in my schedule that I would be likely to watch any of it tomorrow.”
The House Intelligence Committee will hold its first public impeachment hearing Wednesday when it is scheduled to hear testimony from William Taylor, the top U.S. diplomat to Ukraine, and George Kent, deputy secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs.
The hearing will draw intense media coverage, but Republican senators, who would ultimately try any articles of impeachment passed by the House, are not eager to watch any developments as they happen.
Senate Republican Conference Vice Chairwoman Joni Ernst
Joni Kay ErnstRomney on Trump election tactics: 'Difficult to imagine a worse, more undemocratic action' by president Sasse condemns Giuliani's 'wild press conferences': They 'erode public trust' Clock running out on Trump as states move to finalize vote counts MORE (R-Iowa) said she plans to catch up on tomorrow’s developments in the evening but explained, “I have committee meetings that I’ll be engaged in” while the House hearings are going on.
Sen. Chuck Grassley
Charles (Chuck) Ernest GrassleyOn The Money: Push for student loan forgiveness puts Biden in tight spot | Trump is wild card as shutdown fears grow | Mnuchin asks Fed to return 5 billion in unspent COVID emergency funds Grassley, Wyden criticize Treasury guidance concerning PPP loans IRS races to get remaining stimulus checks to low-income households MORE (R-Iowa), a senior member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said, “I don’t have time to watch that tomorrow.”
An aide to Grassley pointed out that the Senate Judiciary Committee will meet at the same time as the House proceedings.
Grassley said it would be “worth it” to pay attention when Democrats “decide to give due process to [the] minority party the same way we did when Clinton and Nixon were involved,” referring to the 1973-1974 and 1998-1999 impeachment efforts.
Senate Republicans have argued the House impeachment investigation is unfair because it doesn’t give Republican lawmakers enough power to call competing witnesses or the president’s defense team enough opportunity to cross-examine officials who testify.
