Democrats have opposed such a move, and Mr. Schiff suggested the chief justice should rule on that question. “We have a very capable justice sitting right behind me who can make decisions about the materiality of witnesses,” Mr. Schiff said, adding: “We trust the Supreme Court justice.”If history is any guide, Chief Justice Roberts will be reluctant to do so. When President Bill Clinton was tried in the Senate in 1999, Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist used his authority sparingly, leaving most questions to the Senate to decide. Mr. Schiff and his team of prosecutors maintain that the president was trying to influence the 2020 election for his personal gain. Mr. Trump’s team has argued that he cannot be convicted or removed because he is not accused of violating a law — an argument Mr. Dershowitz said he now agreed with because he had done more research.

Source: New York Times January 26, 2020 18:23 UTC