Even though Democrats had been working to remove President Trump from office since the moment he got elected, and that four of his current 2020 rivals were voting to remove him from office in the Senate, ABC’s World News Tonight had an issue with Senate Republicans signing the oath of impartiality for the trial on Thursday.
As usual, their reporting began with anchor David Muir hitting the tired sensationalist buzzwords. “And we begin tonight with the solemn turn on the hill today. The Senate impeachment trial is here. And that heavy moment today when the chief justice arrived to be sworn in to preside over the impeachment trial of President Trump,” he announced.
“Chief justice John Roberts presiding, administering the oath. Every senator standing with arm raised. It was silent but for that moment they promised impartial justice. Then, signing a pledge to do the same,” he added.
The report by senior congressional correspondent Mary Bruce played up the “solemn ceremony seen just twice before in American history.” She began to set up her chide against Republicans by noting that Chief Justice John Roberts had sworn in all the senators:
BRUCE: Roberts then administering the oath to the full Senate.
ROBERTS: Do you solemnly swear that in all things appertaining to the trial of the impeachment of Donald John Trump, president of the United States, now pending, you will do impartial justice according to the constitution and the laws, so help you, God?
SENATORS [in unison]: I do.
“The senators then signing that pledge, one by one. Democratic leader Chuck Schumer echoing its words with a warning to Republicans who've already vowed to stand by the President,” she added, then playing this soundbite of the New York Senator’s condescending remarks: “Now that every senator has sworn an oath before God and the American people to do impartial justice, let every senator reflect on that choice and let history weigh on every one of our shoulders.”
Of course, Bruce, who relishes every opportunity to share soundbites of people screaming at Republicans, thought that Republicans were the problem with the impeachment trial.
Meanwhile, the four Senate Democrats running for president were on the record saying Trump needed to be impeached, some (Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren) made that desire public even before the Ukraine matter arose. That’s not to mention the three other Democratic senators who were running for president and failed.
The transcript is below, click "expand" to read:
ABC’s World News Tonight
January 16, 2020
6:32:06 p.m. EasternDAVID MUIR: Good evening and it's great to have you here you with on a Thursday night. And we begin tonight with the solemn turn on the hill today. The Senate impeachment trial is here. And that heavy moment today when the chief justice arrived to be sworn in to preside over the impeachment trial of President Trump.
The managers from the House, the members of Congress who will present the two articles of impeachment present their case, walking across the capitol to the Senate. Then the formal reading of the two articles charging the President with abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.
Chief justice John Roberts presiding, administering the oath. Every senator standing with arm raised. It was silent but for that moment they promised impartial justice. Then, signing a pledge to do the same.
(…)
[Cuts to video]
SEN. CHUCK GRASSLEY (R-IA): On the part of the House will be received --
MARY BRUCE: Today, on the Senate floor, a solemn ceremony seen just twice before in American history. The trial of President Donald Trump, now officially underway.
SEN. MITCH MCCONNELL (R-KY): At 12:00 noon, the Senate will receive the managers of the House of representatives to exhibit the articles of impeachment against Donald John Trump, president of the United States.
BRUCE: A sight rarely seen. Nearly all 100 senators present, sitting quietly in their seats.
UNIDENTIFIED MAN: Hear ye, hear ye, all persons are commanded to keep silent, on pain of imprisonment.
BRUCE: The chief justice, John Roberts then sworn in.
GRASSLEY: Raise your right hand. Do you solemnly swear that in all things appertaining to the trial of the impeachment of Donald John Trump, president of the United States, now pending, you will do impartial justice according to the Constitution and the laws, so help you, God?
CHIEF JUSTICE JOHN ROBERTS: I do.
GRASSLEY: God bless you.
BRUCE: Roberts then administering the oath to the full Senate.
ROBERTS: Do you solemnly swear that in all things appertaining to the trial of the impeachment of Donald John Trump, president of the United States, now pending, you will do impartial justice according to the constitution and the laws, so help you, God?
SENATORS [in unison]: I do.
BRUCE: The senators then signing that pledge, one by one. Democratic leader Chuck Schumer echoing its words with a warning to Republicans who've already vowed to stand by the President.
SEN. CHUCK SCHUMER (D-NY): Now that every senator has sworn an oath before God and the American people to do impartial justice, let every senator reflect on that choice and let history weigh on every one of our shoulders.
(…)
