Supreme Court Justice Chief John Roberts was expected to preside over the upcoming impeachment trial for former President Donald Trump. Instead, Senate President Pro Tempore Patrick Leahy will preside over the upcoming proceedings. Leahy earns this title as the most senior member of the Senate Democratic Conference.
Given the political nature of this trial, Leahy promises to implement “impartial justice.”
“The president pro tempore has historically presided over Senate impeachment trials of non-presidents. When presiding over an impeachment trial, the president pro tempore takes an additional special oath to do impartial justice according to the Constitution and its laws. It is an oath that I take extraordinarily seriously,” he stated, according to The Hill.
“[I will] not waver from my constitutional and sworn obligations to administer the trial with fairness, in accordance with the Constitution and the laws.”
Senators Mitch McConnell and Chuck Schumer are believed to be on board with the selection of Sen. Leahy. The two Senate leaders have the opportunity to negotiate his selection prior to the start of the trial.
“Leaders have been negotiating all process issues about the trial, and all along we have deferred to them for any announcements about this and all other process matters,” an aide said.
