Sen. Hawley Steps To The Podium & Presents A Resolution Giving Pelosi A Time Limit To Transmit Articles Of Impeachment

[Image Source: Senator Josh Hawley's Youtube & Fox News video screenshots. Swamp Drain compilation].

Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) took to Twitter Thursday to announce that he would introduce a measure on Monday to dismiss impeachment in the Senate. This comes as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) reiterated her plan to not make any more moves with impeachment until she knows the level of “fairness” with the Senate trial rules.

On Monday, Senator Hawley officially introduced his resolution to update the Senate’s rules and to allow dismissal of “partisan impeachment” against President Trump.

Senator Josh Hawley’s proposed resolution would set a time limit for the House of Representatives to transmit articles of impeachment to the Senate. The resolution would allow the House 25 calendars days, from the day the articles were adopted, to transmit articles of impeachment to the Senate. After those 25 days have expired, Senators would be allowed to create a motion to dismiss the articles of impeachment.

In a speech on the Senate floor Monday, Senator Josh Hawley said that it has been “19 days since the House of Representatives impeached the President of the United States”.

“19 days since we were told it was ‘urgent’ that President Trump be impeached and removed from office. It was urgent for the safety of the country. It was urgent for national security. It was urgent to protect the Constitution of the United States. It was urgent, it had to be done now. The articles had to be rushed through, the rules had to be violated, there couldn’t be due process. It was urgent!” the Missouri Senator proclaimed sarcastically. “And where are we now? 19 days later.”

“The Speaker of the House has still not transmitted the articles to this body for a trial, has still not appointed managers for a trial, has still not exhibited the articles before this body for a trial,” he continued. “We now have the longest delay in American history in providing notice to this body and actually moving forward with a trial. And now, I think we have a better sense of what was urgent. What was urgent was fulfilling the partisan vendetta that the Speaker of the House and the Democrats have against this president. What was urgent was overturning the results of an election that they have never accepted. That’s what was urgent.” (Continued Below)

Senator Hawley suggested that Speaker Pelosi may hold the articles indefinitely and prevent the Senate from “carrying out its Constitutional responsibilities”, after a “bipartisan coalition in the House of Representatives voted against impeachment”.

“I think we could probably see the longer we wait, why the Speaker is so reluctant to not have a trial. It was a purely, partisan process in the House. She had Democrats abandon her vote with Republicans in a bipartisan coalition against impeachment. And the articles– the articles don’t even allege a crime. First time in American history impeachment of a president– where no crime is even alleged in the articles. No evidence of a crime even presented. No wonder she doesn’t want to have a trial,” Senator Hawley expressed.

“It is time for the Senate to act to preserve the Constitution, separation of powers, to preserve the Constitution guarantees the right to due process, the right for the president to be heard, the right for the American people to have these impeachment articles adjudicated– resolved as the Constitution commits and provides for,” he stated. (Continued Below)

“And that is why today I am introducing a resolution to update the Senate’s rules to account for this unprecedented attempt by the Speaker of the House to delay, to deny, to obstruct a trial in the United States Senate,” he announced.

“So today I am proposing new rules in the United States Senate that will set a time limit on the actions of the House. It will give the House Speaker 25 days from the date the articles were adopted and published– 25 days to transmit those articles here to the Senate, to exhibit them as the House rules and Senate rules currently speak of and anticipate,” Senator Hawley said.

“And if that is not done, if, in 25 days, the House Speaker has not acted the Senate is able to move forward with a trial, then under my resolution in the change in the rules I propose today, the Senate would be able to introduce a motion to dismiss these articles for lack of prosecution,” he continued.

“In the real world, when a prosecutor brings a case but refuses to try it, the court has the ability and the defendant has the right, … to have those articles, those indictments, those charges, dismissed. That is precisely the action I am proposing today. It is time to update the Senate’s rules to account for this unprecedented attempt at obstruction, at denial, at delay. It is time for the Senate to act,” Hawley explained. (Video Below)

The resolution was co-sponsored by 10 other Senators including: Sens. Rick Scott, (R-FL), Mike Braun (R-IN) Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Ted Cruz (R-TX) Steve Daines (R-MT) John Barrasso (R-WY) Tom Cotton (R-AR) Joni Ernst (R-IA) David Perdue (R-GA), and Jim Inhofe (R-OK).

Senator Josh Hawley thanked his colleagues for co-sponsoring the resolution to hold Speaker Pelosi accountable:

Senator Josh Hawley’s official remarks on the Senate floor:

(Related: Mark Levin To Senate Republicans: “Declare The House Democrats’ Impeachment Null And Void NOW!”)