MONTPELIER | Vermont U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy (D) announced that he will preside over the Senate’s impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump. Leahy sent an email statement to news reporters Jan. 25 about his role in the historic trial linked to the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol protest turned violent.
Being the Senate’s president pro tempore, Leahy is now third in line to the presidency. The president pro tempore has historically presided over Senate impeachment trials of non-presidents.
When presiding over an impeachment trial, the president pro tempore takes an additional special oath to do impartial justice according to the Constitution and the laws.
“It is an oath that I take extraordinarily seriously,” Leahy said.
Leahy noted that each president pro tempore has historically served as a “neutral arbiter”, issuing rulings where appropriate and preserving order.
“I consider holding the office of the president pro tempore and the responsibilities that come with it to be one of the highest honors and most serious responsibilities of my career. When I preside over the impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump, I will not waiver from my constitutional and sworn obligations to administer the trial with fairness, in accordance with the Constitution and the laws,” he added.
Categories: Press Release
It is about time for MR Leahy to retire. at 80 yrs old he is an anachroism to be filed away in the dust bin of time.
He must have forgot his oath .
It would be the Supreme Court Chief Justice that should president over an impeachment of a President. Roberts will not president over the hearing, . . . WHY because Trump is no longer President. How do you impeach legally someone who no longer holds office ? Because the SSOTUS recognizes this, yet Vermont Senator desides to take the Chief Justice position ! SERIOUSLY ! ! ! Time to retire Patrick, or at the very least reread the Constitution.
Preside over in sentence 1
Pat Leahy does not get it. he’s just another Democratic swamp monster, and needs to go ! Term Limits !!!!!
President Leahy? That’s pretty scary.
Another thrashing of the Constitution. I guess they can now, at will jump from the legislative branch to the judicial branch when ever they see fit. Just like they can change genders when ever they see fit. Where are the suits to challenge the Constitutionally of their usurping the separation of powers.
Gee do you think Leahy should legally be presiding over this sham impeachment trial when he is also guilty of sending a shakedown letter along with Menendez and Durbin to Ukraine prosecutors in 2018 to continue investigating President Trump when Muellers whole report was a sham!!!! That was clearly an abuse of power but it’s ok to impeach a President who is no longer in office, unconstitutional to boot! A President who did his very best for the working class, what democrats used to stand for but no longer! Leahy, your a Catholic aren’t you, you need to take time and reflect on what is right. Do some soul searching. Go to confession and then resign from the senate. It’s the only morally, ethically thing to do! You are an embarrassment!
Leahy presiding over this is like 9 Wily Coyote’s presiding over the prosecution of the Road Runner ! GUILTY ! There’s a reason or two why C.J. John Roberts is not sitting in on this. I guess Pat Leahy is a more impartial Judge ? To say that he is presiding over a Kangaroo Court is an insult to kangaroos.
I just watched a video of Leahy’s opening remarks to the Senate on the faux impeachment. There’s no point in mincing words. Leahy is a dishonest man.
Since when did Sen Leahy become the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court? Isn’t it time for him to go home? Oh wait, the District of Corruption is his home. He makes a big issue of having cast the most votes in the senate. I see that as making him the biggest cause of the crap sandwich we find ourselves in today.