‘Free and Fair’ trial of impeached President Donald Trump is unlikely before January 20: Mitch McConnell

Following the impeachment vote of President Donald Trump on Wednesday at the House of Representatives, Senator Mitch McConnell said it is unlikely that the Senate will be able to conduct a “fair or serious” trial in a short time frame as the outgoing President will vacate the office on January 20, 2021, reported AFP. 

The Republican Senate majority leader said, “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 (Joe) Biden is sworn in next week.” 

Also Read: Mitch McConnell has not yet ruled out Donald Trump’s impeachment

The impeachment of a US President will trigger a trial at the US Senate, however, McConnell added, “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”. 

McConnell, in a previous statement, said that he has decided not to convene the senate before January 19, just one day before the inauguration ceremony of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, reported AFP.  

Also Read: US House of Representatives impeaches President Donald Trump

However, a successful conviction of Trump in the senate will make him the first US President to be impeached and will legally restrict him to run for office in the next Presidential elections.