Stephen Dinan

Chief Justice Roberts rejects Democrats’ effort to be roped into impeachment

Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. rejected Democratic efforts to rope him into possibly playing an active role in the impeachment trial of President Trump, saying he will not cast any tie-breaking votes. Published January 31, 2020

Senate sets Wednesday acquittal vote in Trump impeachment trial

Senators defeated a last-ditch effort by Democrats to call witnesses in the impeachment trial of President Trump Friday evening, then approved a final schedule that will force a vote Wednesday on Mr. Trump's fate. Published January 31, 2020

Senate rejects impeachment witnesses, clearing path to acquit Trump

Republican senators shut down calls Friday to hear witnesses against President Trump, matching Democrats' "half-baked, slapdash" impeachment in the House with the most abbreviated trial in Senate history. Published January 31, 2020

Trump expands travel ban to six new countries

President Trump signed an order Friday expanding his travel ban to six new countries, targeting nations the government says pose a threat because they don't issue electronic passports or don't do enough to share information with American authorities to vet their citizens looking to travel. Published January 31, 2020

Lisa Murkowski to oppose impeachment witnesses; GOP can close trial

Sen. Lisa Murkowski said Friday she will vote against extending the impeachment trial to hear witnesses, saying it's become clear President Trump can't get a fair trial no matter what. Published January 31, 2020

Democrats demand impeachment continue after New York Times report

House Democrats pleaded with senators Friday to extend the impeachment trial of President Trump into next week and beyond, saying new press reports about Mr. Trump's efforts to rope Ukraine into investigating a political enemy must be fully pursued. Published January 31, 2020

Supreme Court schedules Trump tax returns case for March 31

The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in late March on President Trump's attempt to keep his financial records secret, the justices said Friday as they revealed more of their calendar for the year. Published January 31, 2020

Ted Cruz calls for coronavirus travel ban on China

Sen. Ted Cruz said Friday that the U.S. should impose a travel ban on flights to and from China, and new screening at all U.S. airports to try to weed out those who might be contagious with the new coronavirus. Published January 31, 2020

Jerry Nadler steals Adam Schiff closing in impeachment trial

Tensions within House Democrats' impeachment team appeared to boil over onto the Senate floor Thursday night as Rep. Jerrold Nadler ran to the lectern to deliver the final answer of the night, pushing by Rep. Adam Schiff, who's been the party's point man for the Senate trial. Published January 30, 2020

Susan Collins to vote for witnesses in impeachment trial

Sen. Susan Collins became the first Republican to confirm she will vote to demand witnesses testify at the impeachment trial of President Trump. Published January 30, 2020

Lamar Alexander to vote ‘no’ on impeachment witnesses

Sen. Lamar Alexander said Thursday he doesn't see the need for more witnesses in the impeachment of President Trump, saying the president's fate should be decided by voters, not Congress. Published January 30, 2020

‘Public charge’ rule takes effect Feb. 24, DHS says

President Trump's new rule penalizing legal immigrants seeking permanent status for using welfare will go into effect Feb. 24, Homeland Security officials announced late Thursday. Published January 30, 2020

Joe Biden opposed witnesses in 1999 impeachment memo

Then-Sen. Joseph R. Biden wrote in 1999 that the Senate could refuse to hear witnesses in an impeachment trial, according to a memo the president's legal team read on the Senate floor Thursday. Published January 30, 2020

Swing senators prod Trump lawyers over Giuliani’s role in Ukraine

Four senators seen as swing votes on President Trump's impeachment asked the president's lawyers Thursday if they could guarantee he would not use private Americans to conduct foreign policy. Published January 30, 2020

2020 election dominates impeachment trial

The impeachment trial veered deeply into politics Thursday as Democrats said President Trump can't be trusted to be on the ballot this year. Republicans accused them of trying to remove the president by force because they know voters would return him to the White House. Published January 30, 2020

Chief Justice John Roberts intervenes, refuses to read GOP question during impeachment

Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. inserted himself into the impeachment trial Thursday, refusing to read a question from Sen. Rand Paul that apparently trod too closely to the identity of the whistleblower who ignited the entire affair. Published January 30, 2020

White House warns Democrats a prolonged trial will include Hunter Biden, Adam Schiff

The White House on Thursday doubled down on demands that if President Trump's impeachment trial in the Senate expands to include new witnesses, it will include potentially explosive defense witnesses. Published January 30, 2020

Impeachment math: Will the Senate call witnesses?

Republicans are closer to the 51 votes they need to head off witnesses in the Senate impeachment trial than it seemed earlier this week, with senators saying there are perhaps four who are still in play. Published January 30, 2020

Alan Dershowitz says Trump era more divisive than McCarthyism

Alan Dershowitz, the Harvard emeritus professor assisting President Trump's impeachment defense, warned Wednesday that much of the country would refuse to accept a conviction in the trial. Published January 29, 2020

Chief Justice John Roberts expanded legal role rejected by Trump lawyers

Senate Democrats said Wednesday they would be willing to turn over key legal decisions in the impeachment trial to Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. -- but the president's team said it wouldn't agree, saying it's not how the Constitution envisioned things. Published January 29, 2020