Sen. Ted Cruz suggested an idea on Tuesday that could instigate calling former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter to testify in President Trump’s upcoming impeachment trial in the Senate.
‘Witness reciprocity’
Cruz said that through something called “witness reciprocity,” GOP Senate leaders could call a witness of their own for every witness called for by Democrats.
According to Fox News, Cruz explored the idea during a meeting with GOP leaders including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. Cruz said using this method, the GOP could potentially call other people including House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff and the whistleblower who publicized a phone call in July between Trump and the leader of Ukraine.
NEWS – On Tuesday, McConnell met privately w/Cruz, Graham, Cornyn & Mike Lee to discuss “witness reciprocity,” per GOP sources. If Dems get Bolton, then Rs get Hunter Biden. McConnell was open to that message, sources said. @burgessev & me https://t.co/qsqDAgnTe6
— John Bresnahan (@BresPolitico) January 15, 2020
McConnell said of potential witnesses, “We’ll be dealing with the witness issue at the appropriate time into the trial. And I think it’s certainly appropriate to point out that both sides would want to call witnesses if they wanted to hear from them. So if you get to that issue, I can’t imagine that only the witnesses our Democratic colleagues want to call will be called.”
Don Jr. Loves Cruz’s Idea
Donald Trump Jr. loved Cruz’s idea, tweeting, “I love @tedcruz’s plan of witness reciprocity. The American people want to hear from #wheresHunter Biden, #sleepyJoe Biden, #fullofschiff, the phony “whistleblower” etc. much more than they do anyone on our side especially since the house had free reign of witnesses for months.”
I love @tedcruz’s plan of witness reciprocity.
The American people want to hear from #wheresHunter Biden, #sleepyJoe Biden, #fullofschiff, the phony “whistleblower” etc. much more than they do anyone on our side especially since the house had free reign of witnesses for months.
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) January 15, 2020
Reports indicate that Democrats would like to call former national security advisor John Bolton, GOP senators, Mitt Romney, Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski to testify. All have suggested they might be open to doing so if called as witnesses.
With a 53 seat majority in the Senate, Republicans need every vote, as it requires a simple majority to win a motion in the Senate.
.@TedCruz is interested in a 'quid pro quo' with Democrats.https://t.co/X04PjotUBl
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) January 15, 2020
RELATED: Impeachment Expert Blasts Pelosi, Says ‘Phony Impeachment’ Will Have Always Have ‘Asterisk’
McConnell Holding Cards Close to the Vest
Republican Shelley Moore Capito noted McConnell likes to keep his plans secret, “He’s been around a long time. And he’s close to the vest. The thing he has on his radar screen is … 51 [votes]. Where can he get to 51? And no matter what his personal beliefs might be or how he feels about it. And I think that’s really the difficulty he has, trying to weave that.”
Sen. Roy Blunt also approved of McConnell waiting to announce his plans, stating, “If I was him, I certainly wouldn’t disclose it because then Nancy Pelosi could say, ‘Oh, now that I’ve seen the rules, I’m not gonna send these [articles] over.’ Why throw your hand in when you’ve won the game?”