Trial of Donald J. Trump, President of the United States
Floor Speech
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Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. Chief Justice, the Senate is now ready to vote on the Articles of Impeachment, and after that is done, we will adjourn the Court of Impeachment. Article I
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Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. Chief Justice, I send an order to the desk.
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Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. Chief Justice, before this process fully concludes, I want to very quickly acknowledge a few of the people who helped the Senate fulfill our duty these past weeks.
First and foremost, I know my colleagues join me in thanking Chief Justice Roberts for presiding over the Senate trial with a clear head, steady hand, and the forbearance that this rare occasion demands.
(Applause.)
We know full well that his presence as our Presiding Officer came in addition to, not instead of, his day job across the street, so the Senate thanks the Chief Justice and his staff who helped him perform this unique role.
Like his predecessor, Chief Justice Rehnquist, the Senate will be awarding Chief Justice Roberts the golden gavel to commemorate his time presiding over this body. We typically award this to new Senators after about 100 hours in the chair, but I think we can agree that the Chief Justice has put in his due and then some.
The page is delivering the gavel.
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Mr. McCONNELL. Of course, there are countless Senate professionals whose efforts were essential, and I will have more thorough facts to offer next week to all of those teams, from the Secretary of the Senate's office, to the Parliamentarian, to the Sergeant at Arms team, and beyond.
But there are two more groups I would like to single out now. First, the two different classes of Senate pages who participated in this trial, their footwork and cool under pressure literally kept the floor running. Our current class came on board right in the middle of the third Presidential impeachment trial in American history and quickly found themselves hand-delivering 180 question cards from Senators' desks to the dais.
No pressure, right, guys?
So thank you all very much for your good work.
(Applause.)
Second, the fine men and women of the Capitol Police, we know that the safety of our democracy literally rests in their hands every single day, but the heightened measures surrounding the trial meant even more hours and even more work and even more vigilance.
Thank you all very much for your service to this body and to the country.
(Applause.)
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