© Greg Nash
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell
Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellTrump admin releases trove of documents on Ukrainian military aid The Hill's Morning Report - Trump trial begins with clashes, concessions What to watch for on Day 2 of Senate impeachment trial MORE (R-Ky.) said on Tuesday that he hopes the Senate is able to finish a likely impeachment trial after "not too lengthy a process."
Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellTrump admin releases trove of documents on Ukrainian military aid The Hill's Morning Report - Trump trial begins with clashes, concessions What to watch for on Day 2 of Senate impeachment trial MORE (R-Ky.) said on Tuesday that he hopes the Senate is able to finish a likely impeachment trial after "not too lengthy a process." McConnell's comments come after he's been tight-lipped on the details of a Trump impeachment trial, except to say he expects there to be one.
Asked on Tuesday about which potential witnesses he would like to see testify, the GOP leader added that it was "way too early" to settle on how the impeachment trial will be handled in the Senate.
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How long a Senate impeachment trial would last has become a rolling point of discussion among lawmakers as they await the outcome of the House's investigation into whether Trump tied Ukraine aid to the country opening an investigation into former Vice President Joe Biden
Joe BidenSanders joins Biden atop 2020 Democratic field: poll The Hill's Morning Report - Trump trial begins with clashes, concessions Trump says impeachment lawyers were 'really good' MORE and his son Hunter Biden.
Joe BidenSanders joins Biden atop 2020 Democratic field: poll The Hill's Morning Report - Trump trial begins with clashes, concessions Trump says impeachment lawyers were 'really good' MORE and his son Hunter Biden. Senators expect that the House would vote on impeachment articles by Christmas, though House Speaker Nancy Pelosi
Nancy PelosiOvernight Health Care: Justices won't fast-track ObamaCare case before election | New virus spreads from China to US | Collins challenger picks up Planned Parenthood endorsement Why Senate Republicans should eagerly call witnesses to testify Trump health chief: 'Not a need' for ObamaCare replacement plan right now MORE (D-Calif.) has refused to rule out that the impeachment inquiry could drag into 2020.
Nancy PelosiOvernight Health Care: Justices won't fast-track ObamaCare case before election | New virus spreads from China to US | Collins challenger picks up Planned Parenthood endorsement Why Senate Republicans should eagerly call witnesses to testify Trump health chief: 'Not a need' for ObamaCare replacement plan right now MORE (D-Calif.) has refused to rule out that the impeachment inquiry could drag into 2020. Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Burr
Richard Mauze BurrJuan Williams: Counting the votes to remove Trump Hillicon Valley: Apple, Barr clash over Pensacola shooter's phone | Senate bill would boost Huawei alternatives | DHS orders agencies to fix Microsoft vulnerability | Chrome to phase out tracking cookies Senators offer bill to create alternatives to Huawei in 5G tech MORE (R-N.C.) raised the prospect of a six- to eight-week impeachment trial during an event in North Carolina earlier this month.
Richard Mauze BurrJuan Williams: Counting the votes to remove Trump Hillicon Valley: Apple, Barr clash over Pensacola shooter's phone | Senate bill would boost Huawei alternatives | DHS orders agencies to fix Microsoft vulnerability | Chrome to phase out tracking cookies Senators offer bill to create alternatives to Huawei in 5G tech MORE (R-N.C.) raised the prospect of a six- to eight-week impeachment trial during an event in North Carolina earlier this month. But that drew quick backlash from GOP senators who noted that would be longer than the Clinton impeachment trial, which McConnell has repeatedly referred to when fielding questions from reporters about what a Trump trial could look like. The Clinton trial started on Jan. 7 and wrapped on Feb. 13.
Lindsey Olin GrahamSenator-jurors who may not be impartial? Remove them for cause Broad, bipartisan rebuke for proposal to pull troops from Africa What to watch for as Senate organizes impeachment on day one MORE (R-S.C.) added, "I doubt if a trial would last that long."Some Republicans have also floated the idea of quickly dismissing any articles of impeachment the House sends over.
But McConnell told reporters last week that he expects there to be a trial.
"My own view is that we should give people an opportunity to put the case on. ... On the issue of how long it goes on, it's really kind of up to the Senate. People will have to conclude, are they learning something new? At some point, we'll get to an end," McConnell said at the time.
