Speed Read
The Senate heard an attorney for President Clinton argue in favor of a Democratic motion to dismiss impeachment proceedings, while Republican House managers urged its defeat, saying the trial should go on. Senators then went into a rare closed session to debate the motion after rejecting a move by Sen. Tom Harkins (D--Iowa) to open debate to the press and public.
Supporting the dismissal motion made by Sen. Robert C. Byrd (D--W.Va.), Clinton attorney Nicole Seligman said of impeachment, “The case cannot be made, it is time to end it.” But House prosecutors argued that the facts warranted full consideration and Clinton’s eventual removal from office.
Republicans, meanwhile, sent a set of 10 questions to Clinton to answer about his conduct, but the White House said the president would not respond.
TODAY’S PROCEEDINGS
The Senate is scheduled to hear up to six hours of arguments on the divisive issue of whether to call witnesses as requested by House managers. However, it remained uncertain whether a vote on either the witness issue or the dismissal question would take place today.
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