The House Judiciary Committee voted Friday morning to bring abuse of power and obstruction of Congress articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump to the House floor for a full vote.
The Democratic House is expected to vote in favor of the articles as well, officially impeaching Trump and putting him on trial in the Republican Senate.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) is already sparking concerns about the trial's fairness with comments he made Thursday night on far-Right Fox News host Sean Hannity's show.
Watch below.
WATCH: Senate Republicans took an oath to act as impartial jurors, yet Mitch McConnell admits that they will be wor… https://t.co/5NCLle7KSe— DNC War Room (@DNC War Room) 1576248916.0
McConnell assured that Senate Republicans would take instruction from the White House in how to conduct the trial:
"There will be no difference between the president's position and our position as to how to handle this to the extent that we can."
There's just one problem: The Constitution.
Article I, section 3 of the Constitution mandates that Senators take an oath before hearing impeachment testimony, but it's not the oath of office that they take. Instead it's the oath of a juror.
According to the Senate Rules in Impeachment, the oath is:
"I solemnly swear (or affirm) that in all things appertaining to the trial of ____, now pending, I will do impartial justice according to the Constitution and laws, so help me God."
Senators must take an oath to be impartial and listen to the facts, regardless of party.
McConnell's statement is already considered by numerous lawmakers and legal experts to be a preemptive breach of his oath.
Senator McConnell has effectively promised to let President Trump manage his own impeachment trial. The Senator mus… https://t.co/OkHosqNk2P— Rep. Val Demings (@Rep. Val Demings) 1576260657.0
.@CongressmanRaja calls Mitch McConnell's pledge to rig the senate trial in favor to Trump a "violation of the sepa… https://t.co/GMw1sX6Kmf— Zac Petkanas (@Zac Petkanas) 1576268597.0
It is incumbent on every Senator to ensure that the impeachment trial not become a farce. That depends on whether 4… https://t.co/It87q1qSIK— Brian Schatz (@Brian Schatz) 1576255370.0
Just a continuation of McConnell and Republican toadyism and obstruction. https://t.co/iLbdiYJbtb— Jill Wine-Banks (@Jill Wine-Banks) 1576255919.0
People are demanding McConnell and Republican senators answer for the comments.
What I would like is for reporters to interview indiv Republican Senators who are now implicated by McConnell’s dec… https://t.co/f67GG8lcDR— Sherrilyn Ifill (@Sherrilyn Ifill) 1576269119.0
Yes, and GOP senators need to go on record whether they support McConnell’s position. https://t.co/Wd3VqnXV6r— Charlie Sykes (@Charlie Sykes) 1576262043.0
This saga is far from over.
You can donate to Mitch McConnell's opponent here.