Lead House Manager Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) angered Republican senators at the Trump impeachment trial Friday night by citing a CBS News report claiming an anonymous Trump “confidant” had said any GOP senators who voted against Trump would have their heads on pikes. There were audible grumblings and cries of “not true” heard by reporters in the gallery. Schiff managed to alienate Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), one of the few Republicans whom Democrats and the media believe are persuadable on impeachment.
“Murkowski is PISSED “He was going fine with moral courage until he got to head on a pike. That’s where he lost me”
Murkowski is PISSED
“He was going fine with moral courage until he got to head on a pike. That’s where he lost me”
— Burgess Everett (@burgessev) January 25, 2020
Schiff made the comments during the finale of the Democrat Managers’ three day presentation of their case to convict and remove President Trump from office on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. Schiff and his fellow House and Senate Democrats are frustrated that Republicans, who control the Senate with a 53 seat majority, are not supporting their efforts to open the trial to new witnesses and evidence.
Original CBS report from Thursday night by Nancy Cordes: “In opening statements, House managers examined the debunked conspiracy theories invoked by Pres. Trump. A @POTUS confidant tells CBS News that GOP senators were warned: “vote against the president & your head will be on a pike.”
In opening statements, House managers examined the debunked conspiracy theories invoked by Pres. Trump.
A @POTUS confidant tells CBS News that GOP senators were warned: “vote against the president & your head will be on a pike.”
Here's @nancycordes https://t.co/LV1Y6QveIh pic.twitter.com/tLB9EpoWr8
— CBS Evening News (@CBSEveningNews) January 23, 2020
Video of Schiff citing the report during his closing statement Friday night:
Dantheman