Outraged critics said this creates a conflict of interest because of Leahy’s votes to convict Trump in February.
Didn’t Leahy vote to convict during first impeachment, hardly a impartial person. Another kangaroo court in the new Banana Republic of the United States
— LuckyLou (@RetLuckyLou) January 25, 2021
And I'm sure leaky Leahy will be 100% impartial. https://t.co/RlfournGMC
— Syvyn11 – IT WASN'T ME! (@syvyn11) January 25, 2021
This move is also causing Vice President Kamala Harris to step aside from presiding over the trial. Leaving the questions, what is the makeup of the senators and is this a situation where she will still be able to step in and be a deciding vote.
When presiding over an impeachment trial, the president pro tempore takes a special oath to do impartial justice according to the Constitution & the laws. It is an oath that I take extraordinarily seriously. My comment here on presiding over Pres. Trump's impeachment trial: pic.twitter.com/Y93RedVb8w
— Sen. Patrick Leahy (@SenatorLeahy) January 25, 2021
Sen Leahy is confident that he will be able to preside over the trial impartially and stated he is not handling evidence. His job is to ensure procedure is followed according to the Constitution.
