3 ms·
Rehnquist characterized his role as presiding over the Clinton impeachment trial by quoting from Iolanthe (A comic opera): "I did nothing in particular, and I d
by wl 6y ago
Rehnquist characterized his role as presiding over the Clinton impeachment trial by quoting from Iolanthe (A comic opera): "I did nothing in particular, and I did it very well." My impression of Roberts presiding over the Trump impeachment trial is that he tried to emulate Rehnquist.
There's plenty to criticize about the Trump trial, but I don't see how you can pin it on Roberts. It was the Senate that voted to not call witnesses, not Roberts deciding that. Since the Senate has "the sole power to try all impeachments" (US Const. Art. I, § 3, cl. 6), it's not even clear Roberts had the ability to override that decision. I'm not sure what you're talking about with things not being recorded. You can find the entire trial on YouTube.
- pstuart 6y agoI don't blame Roberts specifically for the outcome, but I was not impressed. "Doing nothing" is often doing something in absentia. I writing in haste and have already been too political in this thread (hopefully in a respectful manner). We could dissect the flaws (which I would enjoy in the proper forum with time to carve out for it), but as an independent (but "progressive") voter I found both trials to be shams. My original comment was snarky (but true), but in the end I'm not interested in arguing for the sake of "my team" or "being right", but to pursue truth wherever it may lead me.