The House of Representatives has voted to impeach the President. The Senate process will now begin at the first regular meeting following receipt of the article from the House.
The Senate will not convene until next week to hold a trial for the president, according to a spokesperson for Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.
On Wednesday evening, McConnell issued a statement on the Impeachment proceedings and his thoughts on where lawmakers should be focused.
“Given the rules, procedures, and Senate precedents that govern presidential impeachment trials, there is simply no chance that a fair or serious trial could conclude before President-elect Biden is sworn in next week. The Senate has held three presidential impeachment trials. They have lasted 83 days, 37 days, and 21 days respectively,” said U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.
“Even if the Senate process were to begin this week and move promptly, no final verdict would be reached until after President Trump had left office. This is not a decision I am making; it is a fact. The President-elect himself stated last week that his inauguration on January 20 is the ‘quickest’ path for any change in the occupant of the presidency,” said McConnell.
McConnell added in a statement, “In light of this reality, I believe it will best serve our nation if Congress and the executive branch spend the next seven days completely focused on facilitating a safe inauguration and an orderly transfer of power to the incoming Biden Administration. I am grateful to the offices and institutions within the Capitol that are working around the clock, alongside federal and local law enforcement, to prepare for a safe and successful inauguration at the Capitol next Wednesday.”