Donald Trump impeachment: Elizabeth Warren trolls Chief Justice John Roberts over lack of witnesses at trial
Senator Elizabeth Warren trolled Chief Justice John Roberts in a clever manner during a question-answer session of the ongoing impeachment trial against President Donald Trump on Thursday, January 30. While other senators were busy taking on the opponents, Warren, who is in the run for the presidency and will go into the Iowa caucuses in a few days time, decided to do things differently.
The 70-year-old decided to ask whether the chief justuce has hurt the credibility of the Supreme Court by taking part in a trial with no witnesses or evidence. What made matters worse for Roberts is that he had to read out Warren’s question loud under the rules.
“At a time when large majorities of Americans have lost faith in government, does the fact that the chief justice is presiding over an impeachment trial in which Republican senators have thus far refused to allow witnesses or evidence contribute to the loss of legitimacy of the chief justice, the Supreme Court and the Constitution?”
The chief justice, who is in office since 2005 when Republican George W Bush was the president, wore a grim look after reading the question.
Adam Schiff stands by the chief justice
Roberts then let House impeachment manager Adam Schiff, a Democrat from California, to reply to Warren’s query. According to Mother Jones, Schiff stood by the judiciary, saying it did not contribute to a loss of confidence in the chief justice and backed Roberts, saying the latter “has presided admirably”.
“I would not say that it contributes to a loss of confidence in the Chief Justice,” Schiff said, adding: “I think the Chief Justice has presided admirably.”
“We don’t always live up to our ideals,” Schiff further said, adding: “But this trial is part of our constitutional heritage, that we were given the power to impeach the president. I don’t think a trial without witnesses reflects adversely on the Chief Justice. I do think it reflects adversely on us. I think it diminishes the power of this example to the rest of the world.”
The Twitterati was divided over the episode. While some backed Warren, others said it could have consequences.
While it was a good point scored by Warren politically for her supporters ahead of the Iowa Caucuses, Schiff’s response made it evident that the Democratic leadership doesn’t want to deviate from the establishment rules and open yet another warfront to dilute their battle against Trump.