Impeachment trial of President Trump

House Impeachment managers have been presenting their opening arguments today.

Here’s a breakdown of where the House Democrats, Trump’s legal team and other key impeachment trial players are sitting:

Sen. David Perdue arrives for the trail in the Senate.

There are more signs that GOP senators are not budging on allowing subpoenas for witnesses and documents.

After listening to House managers now, Sen. David Perdue, a close ally of President Trump, made clear he won’t get behind witnesses sought by the House. He said there’s a “bright line” between former President Bill Clinton’s impeachment case and the Trump case since the three witnesses who were deposed in the 1999 Senate trial had previously spoken to investigators. 

“There had been three witnesses in the Clinton trial had already been deposed … It was not new material. That was a bright line in my view,” Perdue said.

He added that the Senate is “supposed to rule on their case, not build their case for them.”

Sen. Mike Braun, a freshman and Indiana Republican, said he would only get behind a deal for witnesses that is “reciprocal.”

Asked about issuing subpoena for documents, Braun said, “Those would be a whole lot less important than witnesses because we are getting flooded with information on documents. I think the only thing that would make a difference beyond mostly what we heard anyway would be just live witnesses.” 

Sen. Amy Klobuchar said he has she felt a “shift in tone” today, after last night.

Asked about President Trump’s comments that he would like to be in the chamber himself, Klobuchar said, “Why doesn’t he let his people come and testify? Why doesn’t he testified? None of this has happened, and not getting any testimony, because they’re not letting witnesses come.” 

She was asked about the amendments on allowing witnesses — all of which were tabled yesterday.

“At some point they have to allow witnesses. At some point they have to acknowledge that they do not serve at the pleasure of the President. My Republican colleagues, they are here to respect the power of the people that sent them to Washington,” she said.

 “That’s why they are a juror, and they better start acting like a juror, and a juror should want witnesses and evidence in order to make a good decision,” she added.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has called for a 30-minute dinner break to be taken at 6:30 p.m. ET.

What’s happening right now: Rep. Jason Crow is presenting the Democrats’ opening argument in the impeachment trial of President Trump. Crow is one of seven House impeachment managers selected to present their case.

Sen. Mike Lee walks to the Senate chamber for the impeachment trial.

As Rep. Adam Schiff presented the Democrats’ case today, senators on either end of the political spectrum were seen taking notes, snacking and, on one occasion, filling out a crossword puzzle.

Republican Sen. Mike Lee, of Utah, was fiercely taking notes filling up three full pages in his notebook over the hour.

When Schiff presented video evidence, Lee physically turned his head back at the presentation at least five times seemingly to copy down accurate notes. Lee was seen later chugging a glass of water and massaging the palm of his writing hand. 

In contrast, Lee’s neighbor, Sen. Rand Paul, of Kentucky, focused intensely on a crossword puzzle, not so sneakily hidden between his papers.

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, a Democrat from New York, silently took out a red and grey patterned scarf and wrapped it around her neck. Sen. Joni Ernst, a Republican from Iowa, looked comfortable with a blue sweater of sorts draped over her legs like a cover.

Noises of what sounded like a plastic bag were heard all the way in the press seats above the Senate floor from Republican Sen. Ben Sasse’s general direction. He was spotted shoving unidentified pieces of food into his mouth. When Sasse, of Nebraska, realized reporters were staring at him — he and Republican Sen. Rick Scott, of Florida, stared back, giggling. Sasse then pulled out a clementine from under his desk and offered it to Scott, who jokingly motioned to reporters with a big shrug and crossing arm movement that no, he did not want the clementine or other snacks. 

Sen. Tom Cotton, a Republican from Arkansas, slowly pulled open his desk drawer to file away some notes — and about 10 pieces of candy were seen scattered around, including four mini Hershey bars, some Skittles and other snacks.

Democratic Sen. Tom Kaine, of Virginia, and Sen. Angus King, of Maine, were seen chatting back and forth.

House Democrats’ began giving their opening arguments around 1 p.m. ET today. Several hours in, and some senators have started to wander from their seats.

Around of 3 p.m. ET, the seats were mostly filled in the chamber with very few empty seats or anyone out of the chamber. But 20 minutes later — not long before the trial went into a recess — CNN counted 17 empty seats across the entire chamber, on both sides. Most of the empty seats were on the Republican side, but there were also empty seats on the Democratic side.

Some senators at this time were out of their seats but still visibly in the chamber, standing at the back of the room, which is something a number of senators did yesterday as well, especially as it got later into the night.

Some of those standing during this time were Republican Sens. Roy Blunt and John Barrasso and Democratic Sens. Cory Booker, Chris Murphy and Richard Blumenthal. This was while House manager Adam Schiff was speaking. 

Rep. Jason Crow is now presenting the Democrats’ opening argument in the impeachment trial of President Trump.

Crow is one of seven House impeachment managers selected to present their case. Moments before, Rep. Sylvia Garcia was up.

Reps. Adam Schiff and Jerry Nadler have also made opening arguments before the Senate today.

Senator John Cornyn, a Republican from Texas, told reporters this afternoon he thinks the House Democratic managers are getting repetitive. 

When asked if Cornyn already had an idea of how he was going to vote on the articles of impeachment, he said he’s “still waiting to hear the presentation of the case. I think I owe that to the parties. That’s the oath we take.” 

Cornyn continued: “So far, I think, the House managers are undermining their own case by saying, this was a request for an investigation that was never done and oh, by the way, the President didn’t want it anyway. And just by requesting an investigation that wasn’t done and wasn’t really desired, that represents foreign interference in an election against a potential but undetermined rival? The logic is, you’ve got to struggle a little bit to keep up with the train of thought there, but we’re going to keep an open mind.”

Cornyn went on to call impeachment a “nuclear option.”

“This is something we should not do unless that constitutional standard is met, and I’m struggling to see how that is even close,” he added.

Rep. Sylvia Garcia, one of seven House impeachment managers, is now continuing the Democrats’ opening arguments.

She is the third manager to speak today: Adam Schiff and Jerry Nadler presented parts of the opening arguments before her.

The Democrats will get, in total, 24 hours over the course of three days to present their case.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer told reporters that there is no way he’d trade Hunter Biden for the GOP witness in order to get John Bolton to testify for the Democrats. He said that is not on the table.

“I think that is off the table. That trade is not on the table,” he said.

Asked whether he thought House manager Jerry Nadler’s comments early Wednesday morning were appropriate, Schumer said he thought Chief Justice John Roberts dealt with the issue, and he talked generally about the arguments made. He wouldn’t comment further on Nadler specifically. 

“I’ve said all I’m going to say, “ he told reporters when pressed again on Nadler.

Schumer also applauded his GOP colleagues who fought to change the resolution so each side would have three days instead of two to make the case. Schumer said it was 100% evidence that Republicans could eventually be moved to support more witnesses and documents.

Some background: Roberts scolded both the Democratic House managers and the President’s defense team early Wednesday morning after a contentious exchange on the Senate floor.

Roberts had just listened to the impeachment managers and Trump’s legal team rip into each other after Nadler made the case for issuing a subpoena for former national security adviser John Bolton’s testimony.

During that argument, Nadler accused Republican senators of “voting for a coverup” by killing amendments for documents and testimony of additional witnesses.

That led to White House counsel Pat Cipollone firing back during his own remarks: “The only one who should be embarrassed, Mr. Nadler, is you. For the way you addressed this body. This is the United States Senate. You’re not in charge here.”

The Senate impeachment trial just resumed following a brief break.

House impeachment manager Jerry Nadler is continuing to give the Democrats’ opening statement, picking up from House manager Adam Schiff, who began outlining the case earlier this afternoon.

The Democratic House managers get 24 hours over the course of three days to give their opening arguments.

Jay Sekulow, one of the lawyers on President Trump’s legal team, urged House manager Adam Schiff and Democrats to proceed with their case because he said the opening statement “undercuts their entire argument.”

Sekulow continued: “Look, they’re putting on their case. The good news is we only have 22 hours more to go of their side and we’ll go. Let them put their case on and we’ll continue.”

Asked if Trump’s defense team will use the full 24 hours for their opening arguments, Sekulow said, “I can’t make any determinations as to how long our proceedings are going to go, we got to base it on what they do.”

Senators just took a short break, but they’ll return before 4 p.m. ET.

House manager Adam Schiff spoke for two and a half-hours during the Democrats’ opening statement, which will resume after the break.

It’s day two of the Senate impeachment trial, and senators have a list of rules they must follow.

Prior to the start of the trail, a joint letter was released from the Senate outlining the guidelines for behavior while the trial is in session.

These behavior guidelines include a ban on phones and electronics in the room, and note that those devices should be left outside the Chamber.

Senators are also required to sit silently and not speak to their neighbors while the trial is in session, and they are not to read any materials that do not relate the matter being presented.

The guidelines say that senators must refer to Chief Justice John Roberts as “Mr. Chief Justice,” and remain silent as he enters and exits the trial.

Here’s a look at all the rules:

Rep. Adam Schiff, the top House manager, rebuked President Trump today for claiming that he can’t even be investigated while in office. 

Schiff is accurately describing Trump’s position, which has been argued in federal court by Trump’s lawyers and the Justice Department. One of Trump’s lawyers even said he couldn’t be investigated for murder if he shot someone on the streets of New York City. 

But several federal judges have ruled against these sweeping claims of immunity. A federal appeals court in New York said in November, “presidential immunity does not bar a state grand jury” from investigating “potential crimes committed by persons within its jurisdiction, even if that investigation may in some way implicate the president.” 

What happens next regarding Trump’s immunity: The Supreme Court will likely get the final word on the matter. They agreed to take up some of these cases involving Trump and immunity. But there’s no guarantee that the justices will hand down a decision that addresses all of Trump’s claims – they could rule narrowly.  

Schiff and other Democrats have criticized Trump for simultaneously claiming that he can’t be criminally investigated, while also blocking witnesses and documents from congressional impeachment investigations.

Nearly two hours into a presentation from Rep. Adam Schiff on the Senate floor, President Trump has tweeted from aboard Air Force One.

“NO PRESSURE,” he wrote, the phrase itself in all-caps and quotation marks, apparently referring to his interactions with Ukraine regarding aid and investigations.

House impeachment manager Adam Schiff has been delivering his opening remarks for about two hours now.

The seven House managers — the Democrats who are prosecuting the case against President Trump — get 24 hours over the course of three days to make their case.

For those keeping score: That means we have 22 hours left to go between now and Friday.

After the Democrats finish, Trump’s legal team will also get 24 hours over three days — likely Saturday, Monday and Tuesday — to make their opening arguments.

During his opening remarks, House manager Adam Schiff delve into the decision to withhold security assistance to Ukraine.

“Clearly, Donald Trump felt the Ukrainians owed him,” he said.

Schiff made the comments after playing a video clip of testimony from Ukrainian diplomat Bill Taylor recounting a conversation he had with Ambassador Gordon Sondland about how Trump was acting like a “businessman” in his dealings with the Ukrainians.

On Trump’s motivations to withhold military aid, Schiff said, “This is not about Ukraine’s national security. It’s not about our national security. It’s not about corruption. No, it’s about what’s in it for me. Those Ukrainians owe me.”

Schiff added that the aid money was not Trump’s money.  “That’s your money. That’s the American people’s money for their defense,” he said

Mike Mukasey, an attorney general during the George W. Bush administration, joined GOP senators at lunch today just before day two of the Senate impeachment trial, Louisiana Republican Sen. John Kennedy said.

The central theme of the discussion was the road ahead if senators engaged in a subpoena of witnesses. It was more a discussion about potential and hypothetical scenarios, not a firm game plan.

Another source familiar with the discussion said the tenor of the conversation reflected the message Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell made on the floor: that a fight over witnesses like former national security adviser John Bolton or acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney could lead to a delay in the Senate trial for weeks or even months as subpoenas for key witnesses make their way through the courts.  

Before the trial opened at 1 p.m. ET today, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and White House Counsel Pat Cipollone talked on the floor for a bit. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer leaned over to them and cupped his ear, pretending to eavesdrop, and smiled. 

Sen. Richard Burr also talked with President Trump’s legislative director Eric Ueland and passed him a note. And Sen. Ron Johnson talked to deputy White House counsel Mike Purpura.  

During Democratic House manager Adam Schiff’s first hour, it was clear several senators were trying to stay awake. Sen. Joni Ernst passed some gum to her colleagues to her left and right, Sens. Martha McSally and Tom Cotton. 

Sen. John Barrasso looked over at Sen. Lindsey Graham’s notes. Sen. Bill Cassidy yawned, pushed away from his desk and ate a piece of chocolate by 2 p.m. ET. 

Meanwhile, Graham had a big smile on his face when Schiff played Trump’s “Russia, if you’re listening” clip.

Democratic House impeachment manager Adam Schiff was somber in his opening remarks today on the Senate floor, warning his fellow lawmakers that if President Trump is not convicted, future presidents may “operate as if they too are also beyond the reach of accountability.”

What will happen next in the trial: The Democratic House managers are making their opening statements for the next two hours, according to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. The Senate will then take a recess “when there is an appropriate break time between presenters,” he said.

The House managers have 24 hours over three days to present their case.

How a whistleblower complaint led to Trump’s impeachment:

Senate Republicans shot down 11 Democratic amendments to the trial rules last night, always along party lines — except for one vote.

Sen. Susan Collins, a Maine Republican, broke ranks and joined Democratic colleagues on an amendment proposed by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer that would’ve allowed additional time to file responses to motions. The amendment was defeated 52-48.

Her vote on this amendment could be a signal of what’s to come, as the fight ramps up next week over whether to call new witnesses. Collins is part of a small group of senators who could be swing votes during the trial, along with a handful of other moderate Republicans. 

The Maine senator issued a statement Tuesday, saying she likely supports calling additional witnesses, but only after both parties have made their opening arguments. The other Democratic amendments, which Collins opposed on Tuesday, included subpoenas for White House and State Department documents, and for testimony from senior Trump advisers, including Mick Mulvaney and John Bolton.

There would need to be 51 votes in order to pass an amendment, or to approve a subpoena for any of these potential witnesses. So, if all the Senate Democrats stick together, they need four Republican votes to get anything done. They’ll be looking to Collins for help.

Democratic House impeachment manager Adam Schiff mentioned Alexander Hamilton in defense of impeachment — and shortly thereafter, the White House circulated talking points against impeachment also citing the Founding Father.

Schiff mentioned Hamilton by name, before saying the founders understood “how power can corrupt.”

Around the same time, the White House sent out talking points, saying, “Our founding fathers feared that impeachment would be abused as a partisan tool – rather than the grave remedy it was intended to be.”

“Hamilton and Jefferson warned about a majority using impeachment for political purposes,” the talking points read.

Hear Schiff’s entire remarks on Hamilton:

House impeachment manager Adam Schiff said in his opening statement he believes “an impartial juror” will vote to remove President Trump from office after hearing the case against him.

Schiff reminded the Senate of their duty to act impartially:

He added that it is up to the senators to “decide what kind of democracy that you believe we ought to be. And what the American people have a right to expect in the conduct of their president.”

Rep. Adam Schiff panned the idea of agreeing to bring forward witnesses Democrats want to hear from, like John Bolton, in exchange for also bringing forward witnesses Republicans want to hear testify, like Hunter Biden.

Schiff cut off CNN’s Manu Raju’s attempt to ask for a response to Republican criticism of House manager Jerry Nadler for accusing the GOP senators of engaging in a cover up, by answering different questions instead.

Asked about Chief Justice John Roberts’ rebuke of both the managers and the defense team late last night, Schiff said it is normal that “tempers flare” in the wee hours of the night.

Schiff is giving the House managers’ opening statement on the Senate floor right now.

CNN’s Ali Main contributed to this report.

The Senate chaplain began the impeachment trial with a prayer, urging lawmakers to “remember that patriots reside on both sides of the aisle.”

“Give them a civility built upon integrity that brings consistency in their beliefs and actions,” he said.

The prayer came a day after Chief Justice John Roberts scolded both sides for tense exchanges on the Senate floor.

Here’s his full prayer:

The President’s defense team said they won’t advertise how many hours they will use to make their case.

“Look, they are going to put on their case. Then, we put on our case,” Sekulow said when pushed on if they would use all of their 24 hours to defend the President. 

Sekulow also talked about why they did not offer a motion to dismiss. He said that they decided not to because “we are prepared to proceed to acquittal.”

I also pushed Sekulow on whether the President’s team is talking to individual senators. Ueland interrupted and said that they are having a lot of conversations with individual senators.

Remember: Starting today, each side — the Trump team and the House managers — get 24 hours over three days to present their case, according to a resolution passed by the Senate. The House managers get to go first.

The Democratic House managers will make their opening statements for the next two hours, according to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.

The Senate will then take a recess “when there is an appropriate break time between presenters,” he said.

One thing to note: The House managers have 24 hours over the three days to present their case.

The Senate impeachment trial just kicked off for the day.

The Democratic House impeachment managers are expected to begin their opening statements today.

They’ll have 24 hours over the course of three days to present their case.

Democratic House manager Rep. Adam Schiff, speaking to reporters today, said he believes the House put forth a powerful case yesterday.

“Yesterday, we feel that we laid out a very powerful case for why this trial should be no different than any other trial in America,” he said.

Schiff, a Democrat from California, also called on the Senate to allow House managers to put on a fair trial.

“The House should have the opportunity to prove its case. If we prove our case, the Senate should convict and remove the president from office. But the Senate should allow us a fair trial. The Senate should allow us a fair trial to the American people, one that allows the House to call relevant witnesses,” he said.

“It should involve the calling of witness, it should involve the production of documents,” he added.

House manager Rep. Adam Schiff said the team will begin today by laying out the “factual chronology” of President Trump’s actions. 

He said they believe we will make “an overwhelming case” to convict President Trump.

The seven House Democrats serving as impeachment managers are talking to reporters. These Democrats are serving as the prosecutors in the Senate impeachment trial.

The trial is scheduled to resume at 1 p.m. ET.

Senator Jon Tester, a Democrat from Montana, said sitting in the Senate chamber for almost 12 hours yesterday was “like sitting on a tractor.” 

He said he thought the House managers did a “fine job” of laying out their case, and while he thought the President’s lawyers were prepared, “it just didn’t seem to me that they had a particularly strong case yesterday.”

Trump defense attorneys Pat Cipollone and Jay Sekulow just arrived at the Capitol building through the Senate carriage entrance.

Sekulow said “hopefully it doesn’t go through 3:00 a.m.” before getting on the elevator. 

Rep. Mark Meadows, a top Trump ally in Congress, said he doesn’t believe former national security adviser John Bolton has “anything to add” as a possible witness at the Senate impeachment trial.

“Listen, when we start to look at it, the executive privilege aspect of that, I don’t know that John Bolton has anything to add,” Bolton said.

Remember: Bolton has said he’s ready to testify if subpoenaed. Some Republicans have argued that witnesses should not be called during the trial, since they were not a part of the House’s impeachment inquiry.

When CNN’s Dana Bash asked why Meadows doesn’t want Bolton to even try, Meadows said the investigation should have happened in the House — not the Senate.

A staff member screens arriving passengers with thermal scanners at Hankou railway station in Wuhan, China, on January 21.

President Trump’s impeachment trial continues in Washington, but The Brief’s Bianca Nobilo has been keeping track of the day’s headlines outside Capitol Hill.

Here’s what you need to know: 

Watch more:

Justice Roberts presides over the Senate trial on January 21.

Chief Justice John Roberts, who presided over Senate impeachment hearings until around 2 a.m. ET, took his usual seat at the center of the Supreme Court bench this morning at 10:00 a.m. ET to hear a major dispute that could open the door to more state funds going toward religious education. 

Roberts — wearing his black robe, glasses perched on his nose — showed no outward signs of fatigue after his marathon day. He asked a handful of questions to lawyers on both sides. 

The Supreme Court case is yet another high profile issue the justices will decide this term.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said Majority Leader Mitch McConnell refused to allow yesterday’s rules debate stretch into a second day “because it would interfere with the timeline he promised the President.”

Debate on the rules went into the early hours of this morning after Schumer offered 11 amendments to the proposed rules (all 11 changes were tabled).

At one point, Schumer offered to come back the next day and finish debate instead of running past midnight — but McConnell refused.

On yesterday’s trial proceedings, Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said “it was a dark day and a dark night for the Senate.”

Schumer introduced 11 amendments to Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s resolution for how the trial will proceed. All amendments were tabled.

He added: “The impeachment trial of President Trump begins with a cloud hanging over it. A cloud of unfairness.”

Here’s a look at the amendments that Schumer introduced:

Sen. Rick Scott, a Republican from Florida, said he’s open to considering witnesses during the Senate impeachment trial — after the Senate hears opening arguments.

“I think it’s very important to have a fair trial,” he told CNN. “We’re going to hear from both sides. We’re going to ask questions, and then we’ll make a decision on witnesses.”

CNN’s Dana Bash then asked: “Are you open to witnesses?”

“Oh, Absolutely. This is the process,” Scott responded.

Bash then asked if he was “for real open to witnesses.” Scott brought up he’d love to hear from Hunter Biden — and Bash in turn asked if he’s open to hearing from former national security adviser John Bolton.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, alongside Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy and others, will talk to reporters at 11 a.m. ET.

The news conference comes after a long day in the impeachment trial yesterday. During a marathon debate over trial rules, Schumer offered 11 amendments to the proposed resolution. All of them were tabled — or effectively killed.

The Senate is set to resume the impeachment trial at 1 p.m. ET today.

Senate Homeland Security Chairman Ron Johnson, a Republican from Wisconsin, said the Senate should not subpoena John Bolton or any of the documents the Democrats want, saying they raise executive privilege issues.

Asked if House Democrats made their case to convince Republicans that it’s time to call witnesses and get documents, Sen. Roy Blunt, a member of Senate GOP leadership, said that “our side has not changed our view on this… I think where House Democrats failed yesterday and maybe Senate Democrats failed, was trying to use the time in a way that would wear us out … and deny the President’s team any response this week.”

The first day of the Senate impeachment trial was spent deliberating a resolution from Majority Leader Mitch McConnell establishing the rules of the trial.

After the House managers and the President’s defense team argued their sides of the resolution, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer purposed 11 amendments:

Ultimately, all of the purposed amendments were tabled — or killed — with votes falling along party lines, except for one. 

Sen. Susan Collins was the only Republican to break ranks at any point during the amendment votes, joining with all Democrats to vote against tabling an amendment that would’ve provided more response time to today’s trial motions.

George Conway said “all bets are off with future presidents” if the Senate doesn’t remove President Trump from office.

Conway, a conservative lawyer, said that while he personally agrees with Trump’s policies, he hopes “we never see one like this again.”

Conway added: “I hope that we never see one like this again — even though I agree with a lot of his policies. But where are the boundaries? The boundaries are gone. The constitutional norm is gone if the Senate doesn’t do the right thing here. ”

George Conway said President Trump is “a man that knows no boundaries and he’s going to get worse.” 

The conservative attorney added: “That’s why he needs to be removed now.” 

Conservative lawyer George Conway said that if Trump impeachment attorney Pat Cipollone would be held in contempt if behaved like he did last night in the Senate in a courtroom.

Last night, Cipollone directly targeted House manager Jerry Nadler, telling the Democrat he owes President Trump an apology.

“President Trump is a man of his word. He made promises to the American people and he delivered,” he said. “Mr. Nadler, you owe an apology to the President of the United States and his family.”

Here’s Conway’s reaction to the moment:

Conservative attorney George Conway told CNN this morning that Trump is “a pathological liar.” 

Conway, who is married to Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway, added that Trump’s defense team “standing up before the Senate saying he’s truthful. He’s a man of his word. I mean that’s just absurd.”

On the evidence against Trump, Conway said it is “going to keep coming out.” 

“Truth has a way of coming out,” he said.

Watch here:

Conservative attorney George Conway called the argument from President Trump’s legal team that there was no quid pro quo when it came to the President’s dealings with Ukraine “just utterly and completely shameless in light of all the evidence.”

“And the notion that you can assert that the call, as the President has been doing, as perfect is crazy,” Conway said. 

Conservative attorney George Conway said on CNN this morning that the charges against President Trump are “much, much more serious” than what former President Bill Clinton was accused of during his impeachment. 

Here’s what he said:

Conservative attorney George Conway said he’s “deeply saddened” by the way GOP senators have handled the impeachment trial so far.

CNN’s Jake Tapper just asked him: “How do you feel when you see the Republican party going against these basic rules that you consider to be important?”

“I’m deeply saddened,” he said. “It’s very upsetting. And this is a moment, I think, of reckoning — not just for the country and for the rule of law and for the Constitution.”

Conway continued: 

Watch here:

Conservative attorney George Conway told CNN’s Jake Tapper moments ago that he’s in favor of hearing from witnesses.

“This is a trial where they should want to hear the evidence,” said Conway, who is married to Trump adviser, Kellyanne Conway. 

He continued:

Conservative lawyer George Conway said Republicans “must be afraid of something” since some have said they do not want new evidence at trial.

Watch here:

Conservative lawyer George Conway said the Democratic House manager “out-classed” President Trump’s legal team at the impeachment trial yesterday.

“Well, I think the managers simply out-classed Trump’s lawyers,” he told CNN.

He continued:

Attorney George Conway is speaking to CNN following a contentious day in the impeachment trial of President Trump.

You can watch the interview in the video player at the top of this page.

Democratic presidential candidate and Sen. Michael Bennet issued a statement this morning laying out his plans for balancing being a juror in President Trump’s impeachment trial with his campaign itinerary.

Bennet also reiterated his stance that he would not conduct any campaign fundraising while the impeachment trial is in session, according to the campaign statement.

Bennett is one of four sitting US senators running for President. The others are Amy Klobuchar, Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren.

Trump’s defense team is not expected to make a motion to seek dismissal of the case today, according to sources familiar with the defense team’s plans.

Democrats at the moment are also not expected to make any motions today, according to sources familiar with the House managers’ plans. 

What this is about: Both sides had until 9:00 a.m. ET to file any potential motions they wanted considered ahead of opening arguments today.

This means that when the Senate trial reconvenes at 1:00 p.m. ET they are expected to go straight into arguments, beginning with the House managers. 

The Senate impeachment trial gavels into session today at 1 p.m. ET. But there’s plenty happening on Capitol Hill this morning.

Moments ago, at 9 a.m. ET, there was a deadline for both House Managers and the White House defense team to file any motions they want considered at the start of the day’s proceedings.

We don’t know what the content of these motions will be nor how many have been offered — but they should be released by the two sides at some point this morning.

Here’s what else we’re keeping an eye on this morning:

Debate on the Senate trial rules stretched late into the night: About 12 hours after the trial’s 1 p.m. ET start time yesterday, the rules for the opening stage were set.

If you went to bed as the debate dragged on, here’s what you missed:

Two sources in communication with Majority Leader Mitch McConnell say he wants this trial done in about 10 days.

It’s possible the trial could warp up that quickly — but there’s a big caveat here: Both sides can yield time back, so that could change the time frame. And if there’s a majority vote to subpoena witnesses or documents, that could change things as well.

But if all 24 hours allotted to each side for opening arguments are used, here’s how the schedule could play out:

President Trump is on Twitter quote-tweeting videos of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and going after Democrats for requesting witnesses in the Senate trial.

Trump is on his way back to the US from Davos, Switzerland.

Here are his tweets:

The Senate passed a resolution early this morning outlining the rules for the impeachment trial of President Trump.

The trial will reconvene today. Here’s a rough outline of what to expect (but remember: everything is subject to change):

President Trump said he would “love to go” sit at his impeachment trial in the Senate, telling reporters in Davos he’d “sort of love” to “sit right in the front row and stare in their corrupt faces.”

When reporters continued to question Trump on whether he would go, Trump added: “I don’t know. Don’t keep talking because I may — you may convince me to do it.”

Trump was then asked whether his attorney’s — specifically Pat Cipollone and Jay Sekulow — would want him to do it, Trump answered with a smirk : “I think they might have a problem. I think they might.”

The Senate impeachment trial of President Trump — only the third impeachment trial in US history — kicked off in earnest yesterday.

While there were procedural moves in the trial last week, yesterday marked the first serious day of trial.

Here’s what you need to know about how the day played out: