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Impeachment Trial Redux

Senate page hands question to parliamentarian

The second impeachment trial of now former president Trump took but five days, four of which are documented in these few sketches. Access to the Senate gallery was restricted because of the COVID19 pandemic which meant that we were rotated in for about twenty minutes every couple hours or so. Nevertheless the staff of the Radio-TV gallery were incredibly helpful and accommodating as always. I just hope to never sketch another impeachment.

One third of GOP seats empty during House managers’ args

Sen. Hawley ( feet up? )

House manager Rep. Swalwell and Republican senators

Senators Burr ( no socks ) and Fischer

Empty public gallery

Senators Cassidy ( taking notes ) and Cruz

Lindsey Graham has first GOP question

GOP Senator Braun reading magazine during House managers’ closing argument.

Trump defense attorney Michael Van Der Veen and House manager Stacy Plaskett shortly before announcement of stipulation on witness.

Senators huddle following vote to allow witnesses.

 

Senate Impeachment Sketches, Part II

Here are the final sketches from the Trump impeachment trial, plus a few from the State of the Union the night before the final vote, created on assignment for the New York They appear with commentary on the NYT site here.

Correction: These are not actually the cubbyholes used by senators, those are in the cloakrooms.

 

 

 

A Common Theme?

The week before last – time flies, I’ve been busy – I went on the road to cover two hearings a few hundred miles apart though in some ways alike. Both defendants were at one time coaches, and both are suspected of sexual relations with young boys.

In Chicago former House Speaker Dennis Hastert pleaded guilty to a felony charge of concealing large withdrawals of cash. By doing so he avoided a trial and possible testimony from the victim he was paying off.

The next day, in Bellefonte, PA, former Penn State assistant coach Jerry Sandusky appeared in court as his lawyer sought to challenge the grand jury investigation that led to the charges of child sexual abuse of which Sandusky was convicted in 2012.

 

 

” What A Maroon ! “

Hip-Hop tweeting Tea-Party Republican congressman Trey Radel (third from right) pleaded guilty to cocaine possession in DC Superior Court this morning and was given a suspended sentence and one year probation. He is on the record, having voted in the House, in support of drug testing food stamp recipients.

You can read about it here.