In addition to calling in four key witnesses to testify in the Senate's impeachment trial in the case of President Donald Trump, subpoenas should be issued for a "limited set of documents" that will "shed additional light" on the Trump administration's decision-making where Ukraine is concerned, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said during a press conference Monday afternoon.
"We have said from the beginning that there are two components that are necessary for a full and fair trial," Schumer told reporters. "First, the Senate should hear testimony under oath from four key witnesses, all of whom would have eyewitness direct knowledge of what happened in relation to these charges."
But the documents are considered as important as the witnesses, said Schumer, as they will shed light on the decision-making behind the delay and release of funding to Ukraine.
"President Trump has said he wants due process," Schumer added. "Well, our proposal gives it to him. The tradition of due process is that when you're accused, you get the confront your accuser and make your case. We urge President Trump to do that through documents and witnesses."
The need for the documents has received less attention than the call for witnesses, said Schumer, but it is an "equally important aspect" needed for the facts of the case to come out.
"We don't know what these documents will say," he commented, "just as we don't know what the witnesses will say. They may actually be exculpatory of President Trump or maybe further condemning President Trump. But they should come out."
Schumer said he sent a letter to the entire Senate to detail the documents, which break down into three categories: the effort to pressure Ukraine into announcing investigations; documents related to the effort to induce and pressure Ukraine to announce certain political investigations. Second, the order to hold and later release military assistance to Ukraine; and documents related to the withholding of a White House meeting Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy had "desperately sought."
Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
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