The Senate impeachment trial of President Donald Trump could begin as early as next week as Senate Democrats joined the call for a release of the House’s Articles of Impeachment.
The prediction came from Senator Lindsey Graham (R - South Carolina) during an interview on Fox News. His comments reflected the growing number of Senate Democrats who said they believe the trial should get underway.
Speaking to Politico, Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-California) said “The longer it goes on, the less urgent it becomes. So if it’s serious and urgent, send them over. If it isn’t, don’t send it over”
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-California) caused the delay of a Senate trial by withholding the official articles of impeachment after they were passed on a largely party-line vote in the House.
The vote on the two articles of impeachment came after three months of investigation, trial and testimony. The House approval made President Trump the third President in American History to be impeached.
Official impeachment proceedings began September 24th when Speaker Pelosi announced the official inquiry. Her decision followed President Trump’s declassification of the 5-page transcript of his conversation with Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The impeachment inquiry centered on the accusation that Trump talked to Zelensky about possible campaign interference of former Vice President Joe Biden.
Oklahoma’s House members also split along party lines during the vote to approve the articles of impeachment.
Representative Kendra Horn (D-CD 5) issued a statement supporting her vote for impeachment saying "we must act to protect our constitution, the integrity of our elections, and our national security." Rep. Horn is Oklahoma's lone Democratic representative in the House.
Oklahoma’s Republican representatives voted against impeachment.
Representative Tom Cole (R-CD 4) told The New York Times "there are no grounds for impeachment." Rep. Kevin Hern (R-CD 1) also speaking to the paper, said he "wholeheartedly opposed this farce." Rep. Markwayne Mullin (R-CD 2) said he believed Democrats are "trying to overturn this election."