参议院多数党领袖米奇·麦康奈尔周五将民主党弹劾审判证人的要求称为“不可能”，称之为“众议院议长[将在参议院亲自设计审判程序的幻想”
这位肯塔基州共和党人发表上述言论之际，参议院对唐纳德·特朗普总统审判的僵局仍在继续，众议院议长南希·佩洛西(民主党-加利福尼亚州)继续拒绝上院的弹劾文章。她发誓要这样做，直到麦康奈尔与参议院少数党领袖查克·舒默(纽约民主党)就即将到来的审判规则和允许证人出庭达成一致。
麦康奈尔无意向民主党让步。参议院的两位领导人都表示，他们距离达成协议还没有到圣诞节休会前立法者会面的那一天。
“所以，目前，我们满足于继续参议院的普通事务，而众议院民主党人继续挣扎，”麦康奈尔周五在参议院说。“如果他们有勇气支持他们草率的工作成果，并将他们的文章递交给参议院，那么美国参议院就应该实现我们的建国目标。”
众议院议长南希·佩洛西(Nancy Pelosi)在2019年12月19日的新闻发布会上，参议院多数党领袖米奇·麦康奈尔(Mitch McConnell)在2018年11月7日。
佩洛西在一份声明中做出回应，指责麦康奈尔“加倍违反他的誓言”就职。
“领导人麦康奈尔明确表示，他将无力地遵从特朗普总统对其滥用权力的掩盖，并成为这一掩盖的帮凶，”她说。
舒默要求传唤据信直接了解特朗普与乌克兰有争议交易的四名现任和前任特朗普政府官员在参议院审判中作证。这四人是前国家安全顾问约翰·博尔顿、代理白宫办公厅主任米克·马尔瓦尼、管理和预算办公室官员迈克尔·杜菲和马尔瓦尼的高级顾问罗伯特·布莱尔。
与此同时，新披露的未更新电子邮件说明五角大楼官员对扣留国会拨给乌克兰的军事援助的合法性的担忧程度，并表明该指令显然来自特朗普。舒默说，证据进一步强调了参议院审判需要证人，因为白宫指示证人不要与众议院弹劾调查人员合作。
麦康奈尔重申，他打算以与比尔·克林顿总统相同的方式进行审判。这意味着要考虑证人是否只有在众议院弹劾管理人员出示证据并且政府提供辩护后才会被传唤。
舒默说这种情况是不可接受的，因为他相信麦康奈尔会声称立法者已经听够了，应该投票。舒默还说，麦康奈尔会指责民主党试图延长不可避免的无罪判决。
舒默在参议院说:“如果我们不能得到众议院经理能够传唤证人作为他们案件的一部分的承诺，参议院将只不过是模拟审判俱乐部的全国电视会议。”。“我们是否得到公平审判的关键问题最终取决于这个议院中的大多数参议员。”
这个故事被更新为包括众议院议长南希·佩洛西的声明。
MCCONNELL SAYS PELOSI'S 'FANTASY' TO HAVE ROLE IN IMPEACHMENT TRIAL IS A 'NONSTARTER,' VOWS SENATE WILL CONTINUE WITH 'ORDINARY BUSINESS'
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell labeled Democrats' demands for impeachment trial witnesses a "nonstarter" Friday, calling it a "fantasy that the speaker of the House [would] get to hand-design the trial proceedings in the Senate."
The Kentucky Republican's comments came as the standoff over how to proceed with the Senate trial of President Donald Trump stretches on, with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) continuing to withhold the impeachment articles from the upper chamber. She's vowed to do so until McConnell comes to an agreement with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) regarding the rules for the impending trial and allowing witnesses.
McConnell showed no intention of conceding to Democrats. And both of the Senate leaders signaled they were no closer to reaching an agreement than the day the lawmakers met before Christmas recess.
"So, for now, we're content to continue the ordinary business of the Senate while House Democrats continue to flounder," McConnell said on the Senate floor Friday. "If they ever muster the courage to stand behind their slapdash work product and transmit their articles to the Senate, it will then be time for the United States Senate to fulfill our founding purpose."
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi at a press conference on December 19, 2019, and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on November 7, 2018.
Pelosi responded in a statement, accusing McConnell of "doubling down on his violation of his oath" to office.
"Leader McConnell made clear that he will feebly comply with President Trump's cover-up of his abuses of power and be an accomplice to that cover-up," she said.
Schumer has demanded that four current and former Trump administration officials believed to have direct knowledge of Trump's controversial dealings with Ukraine be subpoenaed to testify in the Senate trial. Those four are former national security adviser John Bolton, acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney, Office of Management and Budget official Michael Duffey and Mulvaney senior adviser Robert Blair.
Meanwhile, newly revealed unredacted emails illustrate the extent to which Pentagon officials were concerned about the legality of withholding congressionally appropriated military aid to Ukraine and show that the directive clearly came from Trump. Schumer said the evidence further underscored the Senate trial's need for the witnesses, who were directed by the White House to not cooperate with House impeachment investigators.
McConnell reiterated that he intends to conduct the trial in the same fashion as President Bill Clinton's. That means considering whether witnesses will be called only after evidence is presented by House impeachment managers and the administration provides its defense.
Schumer said that scenario is unacceptable because he believed McConnell would claim that lawmakers had heard enough and should vote. Also, McConnell would accuse Democrats of trying to prolong an inevitable acquittal, Schumer said.
"If we don't get a commitment up front that the House managers will be able to call witnesses as part of their case, the Senate will act as little more than a nationally televised meeting of the mock trial club," Schumer said on the Senate floor. "The vital question of whether or not we have a fair trial ultimately rests with the majority of the senators in this chamber."
This story was updated to include a statement from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
