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The NPR Politics Podcast

Trump Legal Team Says Quid Pro Quo In Pursuit Of Reelection Isn't Impeachable

The NPR Politics Podcast

NPR

News, Politics, Daily News

4.425.7K Ratings

🗓️ 30 January 2020

⏱️ 13 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

The point was made by Alan Dershowitz, one of the president's attorneys: "If a president does something which he believes will help him get elected in the public interest, that cannot be the kind of quid pro quo that results in impeachment."

Asked to respond, Impeachment Manager Adam Schiff was incredulous. "All quid pro quos are fine, it's carte blanche?" Schiff asked. "Is that really what we're prepared to say?"

The question of whether witnesses will be included in the trail remains open. While Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told Republicans on Tuesday that he didn't have to votes to block witnesses, Democrats still may not have enough support to subpoena former national security adviser John Bolton. Bolton reportedly claims in a forthcoming book that President Trump conditioned aid to Ukraine on an investigation that would likely benefit his reelection bid.

This episode: White House correspondents Tamara Keith and Franco Ordoñez, and political reporter Tim Mak.

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Transcript

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0:00.0

Hey there, it's the NPR Politics Podcast.

0:05.7

It is 7-10 pm on Wednesday, January 29th.

0:09.6

I'm Tamer Keith.

0:10.6

I cover the White House.

0:11.6

I'm Franco Ardonia.

0:12.6

I also cover the White House.

0:14.1

And I'm Tim Mac.

0:15.1

I cover Congress.

0:16.1

And today, the impeachment trial opened another new chapter.

0:19.7

The Senate will convene as a court of impeachment.

0:23.1

With Senator Mitch McConnell laying out the rules.

0:25.8

Today, the Senate will conduct up to eight hours, questions to the parties delivered in writing

0:33.8

to the Chief Justice.

0:35.6

As a reminder, the two sides will alternate, and the answer should be kept to five minutes

0:41.5

or less.

0:42.8

And that is what they did.

0:44.6

The very first question was asked by Senator Susan Collins from Maine.

0:49.8

Mr. Chief Justice.

0:52.8

The Senator is recognized.

0:54.4

I send a question to the desk on behalf of myself, Senator Murkowski, and Senator Romney.

1:04.9

And then literally, the question on a note card was sent up to Chief Justice John Roberts,

1:10.4

who as with every question asked, read it aloud in the chamber.

...

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