Tentative Schedule for Next Steps in Impeachment Trial

The office of Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-Miss.) on Tuesday outlined a tentative schedule for upcoming phases of President Clinton’s impeachment trial.

Thursday--Senate trial resumes at 10 a.m. PST. Pending matters include:

* Resolving any disputed objections in the depositions of Monica S. Lewinsky, Vernon E. Jordan Jr. and Sidney Blumenthal (none has come up).

* Voting on motions to admit deposition transcripts into the public record, release videotapes of the questioning and call the three witnesses for live testimony.

* Deciding on possible request by House prosecutors for new witnesses. The motion must be approved jointly by Lott and Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.).

Friday--Action depends on what is approved Thursday. If all motions fail, White House lawyers could request their own witnesses. If they do not, closing arguments could begin, consisting of six hours equally divided between the two sides.

Saturday--Session probable.

Next steps--The Senate would consider possible GOP-sponsored “finding of fact” motion that declares the case against Clinton proved without removing him from office. Final deliberations on the impeachment case--currently slated to be closed to the public--would last an estimated 2 1/2 days.

Votes on the articles of impeachment would be in public session.