McConnell Decries ‘Bizarre’ Impeachment Process; Calls Schiff ‘De Facto Special Prosecutor’

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) on Wednesday slammed an impeachment resolution brought by House Democrats the day before – using a floor speech to go after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff.

McConnell said that the resolution would deprive President Trump of the “most basic rights of due process.”

“It falls way short, way short…Instead of setting a high bar House Democrats seem determined to set a new low,” he said, before accusing Pelosi of endorsing a “bizarre” process which makes Schiff “a defacto special prosecutor.”

McConnell on Pelosi’s impeachment resolution: “It falls way short, way short…Instead of setting a high bar House Democrats seem determined to set a new low.”

Accuses Pelosi of endorsing a “bizarre” process that treats Schiff “as if he were a defacto special prosecutor”

— Lindsay Wise (@lindsaywise) October 30, 2019

The resolution, set for a Thursday vote, gives Schiff’s committee more power than it has ever had in the past – as prior impeachments have been conducted through the House Judiciary Committee. The new resolution engages the House’s Intelligence, Foreign Affairs, Oversight and Ways and Means Committees to independently conduct their own impeachment inquiries in a full court press.

The resolution also allows Republicans to subpoena witnesses and documents subject to Democrats’ approval. It will also allow Schiff to control the release of transcripts, including ones that have been edited.

McConnell on Wednesday said that the resolution denies Trump “basic due process rights,” such as having his attorney participate in closed-door depositions.