IMPEACHMENT PURGATORY -- The House impeached President Donald Trump last night — but what happens next is totally up in the air. After a mostly party-line vote to oust Trump from office, Speaker Nancy Pelosi refused to commit to immediately sending the impeachment articles to the Senate, upending the timeline for an impeachment trial and teeing up a potential clash with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.
). Senior Democratic aides later confirmed that the House likely wouldn’t transmit the articles until at least early January. While Pelosi can’t hold on to the articles forever, the trial won’t start until they are submitted.The backstory: Anger has been steadily building on the left after McConnell promised to coordinate closely with the White House on an impeachment trial. So some House Democrats started pushing leadership to hold off on sending the articles until McConnell agrees to fair ground rules for the trial. The thinking is that it would give Democrats some leverage, since Trump is eager to be publicly acquitted ASAP. “So far we haven’t seen anything that looks fair to us,” Pelosi told reporters. And the delay could also allow time for some court cases to play out, supporters of the idea say.
But, but, but … the unorthodox procedural gambit drew some eyerolls and head-scratching off Capitol Hill, where political observers wondered why McConnell would be bothered by a delay. He might even welcome it, they argued, since it would forestall a potentially messy clash in the upper chamber that would put a handful of senators facing reelection in uncomfortable spots. The move could also infuriate moderate Democrats in the House, who reluctantly embraced impeachment and likely would not be thrilled by a prolonged process that could have unpredictable political effects.
Kyle, Sarah and Bres with the story: https://politi.co/2sLhSqj.For your radar: Pelosi will sit down with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) at 11:30 a.m. this morning to discuss their strategy and figure out their next move, per The Hill’s Alexander Bolton. More on that here: http://bit.ly/2Z1bDL8.
Related read: “Senate Republicans pray Trump won't tweet during trial,” by Marianne and Burgess: https://politi.co/2Z4zzgD.
WHIP IT GOOD -- As expected, zero Republicans voted for impeachment — the first time in history that impeachment has not garnered bipartisan support. But Democrats were pretty solidly united as well: Reps. Collin Peterson and Jeff Van Drew (who is soon switching parties) voted against the abuse of power charge, with Rep. Jared Golden joining them in opposing the obstruction of Congress charge. And Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii, a 2020 presidential candidate, voted present for both. Kyle and Andrew have the full rundown: https://politi.co/36GZuxA.
ROLLIES, THAT DON’T TICK TOCK … “Inside the decision to impeach Trump: How both parties wrestled with a constitutional crisis,” via WaPo’s Rachael Bade, Mike DeBonis and Josh Dawsey: https://wapo.st/2MqbQCP; and “Inside the 85-day march to impeach Donald Trump,” from Jeremy Herb, Alex Rogers and Phil Mattingly: https://cnn.it/2PYGkMY.
MEMORABLE MOMENTS -- Santa Claus protesters, Michael Moore cameos and Trump Christmas cards — oh my. Yesterday's historic impeachment vote was accompanied by a mix of colorful and somber moments in and around the Capitol, as lawmakers prepared to make Trump the third president in history to be impeached. Here are some of the highlights (with links to pictures):
—When the gavel came down after the first impeachment vote, a smattering of Dems started clapping — prompting Pelosi
—Republicans held a moment of silence for an unusual suspect: the results of the 2016 election. In other floor speeches, GOP lawmakers compared impeachment to everything from Pearl Harbor to the crucifixion. And Rep. John Ratcliffe of Texas, a fierce Trump defender, scribbled in
—There were some interesting visitors who watched the debate from the gallery, including a
—Across the Capitol, White House staffers made a special delivery to Senate offices: they dropped off
More scenes from the historic day, from Heather, your Huddle host and Sarah: https://politi.co/2S8i5OZ.
OFF TO GREENER MEADOWS -- Rep. Mark Meadows of North Carolina, one of Trump’s closest confidants on Capitol Hill, will not seek another term in Congress, our friends at Playbook scooped. His decision – which comes a day after the House’s impeachment vote — isn’t entirely surprising for congressional observers. Meadows stepped down as chairman of the House Freedom Caucus this fall, and has shown no interest in jumping into a Senate race in his home state. The filing deadline in North Carolina is Friday.
But his exit is still seismic for conservatives on Capitol Hill. He was a founding member of the hard-line Freedom Caucus and has been one of the most visible Trump defenders throughout the impeachment fight. It’s unclear whether he will land a job in the Trump administration or the campaign, but he’s leaving the door open (he has been floated for chief of staff or a strategist role in the past.) And he may get one last chance to battle impeachment: the White House is considering giving him some type of role in the Senate trial. Check out his interview with Anna Palmer and Jake Sherman: https://politi.co/34zuWws.
Related: “GOP embraces Trump as never before with anti-impeachment,” from the AP’s Alan Fram: http://bit.ly/2Z52j93.
GOOD MORNING! Welcome to Huddle, the play-by-play guide to all things Capitol Hill, on this Thursday, December 19, where your host is ready for a serious post-impeachment diet (and vacation.) Please send along the newest craze.
WEDNESDAY’S MOST CLICKED: Darren Samuelsohn’s story on the impeachment tourists was the big winner.
SPLIT SCREEN -- Trump took the stage last night at his Michigan rally — which featured a Christmas tree decorated with a MAGA hat on top — just as the House started the first vote to impeach him. Trump punched back against the impeachment effort in a lengthy speech, but one of the most controversial moments was when he attacked Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.) and her late husband, the former Rep. John Dingell, suggesting he was “looking up” from hell. The move prompted a mix of groans and cheers in the audience.
The comment sparked instant backlash in Congress. Dingell, who had been watching snippets of the rally on her iPad during the floor votes, said in a tweet directed to Trump: “you brought me down in a way you can never imagine,” noting that this will be her first Christmas without her beloved husband. And retiring Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.) called on Trump to apologize in a tweet. Gabby Orr, who was at the rally, has much more : https://politi.co/2sHdM2z.
Related: “Impeachment day for Trump: A bruised ego, a Twitter eruption and a winding rally,” per Nancy Cook, Burgess and Gabby: https://politi.co/35CRqxZ.
IMPEACHMENT IS A BATTLEFIELD -- Twenty-nine Democrats just voted to impeach Trump while representing districts that helped elect him in 2016. Wednesday’s vote puts an even bigger target on endangered Democrats’ back, who have soberly acknowledged the political risks while attempting to quickly pivot quickly to their policy agenda. Republicans, meanwhile, are eager to use impeachment to take them head-on in 2020, with even more pro-Trump protests and even more GOP-funded attack ads.
That includes a $2.5 million ad blitz by the American Action Network, bringing its total impeachment-related spending to $11 million. Still, Republicans face long odds to win back the House next year and Democrats are heading home for Christmas with a Santa’s sleigh full of local wins. More from Ally Mutnick and Sarah: https://politi.co/2PZHF6m.
Related: “'If I lose my seat over it, so be it': Moderate Democrats confront consequences of impeaching Trump,” from CNN’s Lauren Fox and Clare Foran: https://cnn.it/34CKvDF.
THE OTHER STUFF -- So … what else is happening on Capitol Hill besides impeachment? Well, today the House will vote on Trump’s trade pact with Mexico and Canada, which is expected to pass with support from both parties. The vote was strategically scheduled to be the last vote that Democrats take before heading home for the holidays. But some moderate Democrats are upset that McConnell won’t even be taking it up right away, after railing on Democrats for holding up the deal for so long. Sabrina Rodriguez with more: https://politi.co/35yt889.
And across the Capitol … the Senate is expected to pass a massive $1.37 trillion spending deal, sending it to Trump's desk for signature. There has certainly been some grumbling on the right over the price tag — Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) even dramatically showed his opposition to the bill by
Nothing today.
The House gavels in at 9 a.m., with first votes expected between 9:15 and 10:15 a.m. Today’s agenda: http://bit.ly/38TjfUG.
The Senate meets at 9:30 a.m. to resume consideration of the two House-passed packages to fund the government for fiscal 2020, H.R. 1865 (116) and H.R. 1158 (116) . At 11 a.m., they will vote on the motion to invoke cloture on H.R. 1865.
House Energy and Commerce Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-N.J.) and Reps. Yvette Clarke (D-N.Y.), Bobby Rush (D-Ill.), Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.), Diana DeGette (D-Colo.), Michael Doyle (D-Pa.), Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.), and Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.) hold a news conference on the committee's "2019 accomplishments and to discuss some of the key priorities for 2020” at 10:30 a.m. in Rayburn 2123.
Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) holds her weekly press conference at 10:45 a.m. in HVC Studio A.
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) holds his weekly press conference at 11:30 p.m. in HVC Studio A.
WEDNESDAY’S WINNER: Steve Finley was the first person to correctly guess that New York Knicks star-turned-NJ Senator Bill Bradley began his career in Washington as an intern for Donald Rumsfeld.
TODAY’S QUESTION: From Steve: Who was the future congressman who played in the 1961 Rose Bowl? First person to correctly guess gets a mention in the next edition of Huddle. Send your best guess my way: mzanona@politico.com
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Article originally published on POLITICO Magazine