We have made good progress in our efforts to determine the timing and structure of the impeachment trial of Donald J. Trump.

Chuck Schumer

I am happy to report this morning that the leadership of both parties have finalized the organizing resolution for the Senate, we will pass the resolution through the Senate today, which means that committees can promptly set up and get to work with Democrats holding the gavels.

Mr. Mayorkas’ qualifications are unassailable: he is a seven-year veteran of the DHS and has already been confirmed by this chamber three—three—times, like most of President Biden’s Cabinet nominees, his nomination is also history-making: He will be the first Latino and first immigrant to hold the top job at DHS.

Our preference is to make this important work bipartisan, to include input, ideas, and revisions from our Republican colleagues or bipartisan efforts to do the same. But if our Republican colleagues decide to oppose this urgent and necessary legislation, we will have to move forward without them.

The Senate, as early as next week, will begin the process of considering a very strong COVID relief bill, we need recovery and rescue quickly. Everywhere you look alarm bells are ringing.

I regret to say for 45 Republican senators to vote for a spurious constitutional objection to the coming impeachment trial was deeply, deeply irresponsible, only five Republican senators are willing to take a principled stand against this reckless and ill-advised effort by members of this body who are eager to excuse President Trump's campaign to overturn the election, and apparently, to excuse President Trump incitement to the mob that every one of us experienced in this Capitol.

Time is of the essence to address this crisis, we are keeping all options open.

In keeping our options open, on our caucus call today, I informed senators to be prepared that a vote on a budget resolution could come as early as next week.

Now, I have heard some of my Republican colleagues argue that this trial would be unconstitutional because Donald Trump is no longer in office, an argument that has been roundly repudiated, debunked by constitutional scholars left, right and center, and defies basiccommonsense, it makes nosensewhatsoever that a president — or any official — could commit a heinous crime against our country and then be permitted to resign so as to avoid accountability and a vote to disbar them from future office. It makes nosense.

We can get a lot of the COVID bill done with reconciliation, and that’s something we certainly will use if they try to block this immediate COVID bill.

This argument has been roundly debunked from constitutional scholars from the left, right and center, it defies precedent, historic practice and basic common sense. It makes no sense whatsoever that a president or any official could commit a heinous crime against our country and then defeat Congress' impeachment powers by simply resigning.

During that period, the Senate will continue to do other business for the American people, such as Cabinet nominations and the COVID relief bill which would provide relief for millions of Americans who are suffering during this pandemic.

The Senate will conduct a trial of the impeachment of Donald Trump, it will be a full trial. It will be a fair trial. But make no mistake, there will be a trial, and when that trial ends, senators will have to decide if they believe Donald Trump incited the insurrection against the United States.

The House will deliver the article of impeachment to the Senate. The Senate will conduct a trial of the impeachment of Donald Trump. It will be a full trial. It will be a fair trial.

Right now, we don't know whether it will be abused, if they're going to use it to obstruct absolutely everything, then I'm prepared to change my mind.

Our caucus believes that the fairest easiest and most bipartisan way to come to an organizing resolution is to enact the 2001 agreement that senators Lott and Daschle came to in a bipartisan way back then. We, our caucus, is strongly opposed to any extraneous provisions.

Once he leaves office, do we really expect him to change his tune and accept the truth? of course not. He will continue spreading lies about the election and stoking the grievances of his most radical supporters. Using the prospect of a future presidential run to poison the public arena.

Well, we have the trial of the president. That's mandated by law.

That is a very slippery slope, when we talk about US persons, that is a very slippery slope.

We're going to have to do several things at once, but we got to move the agenda as well, yes, we've got to do both.

The threat of violent extremist groups remains high and the next few weeks are critical in our democratic process with the upcoming inauguration at the U.S. Capitol to swear in President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris.