Washington Post, New York Times Editorial Boards Say GOP Senators Neglected their Duty

After the Republican-controlled Senate voted Friday against a measure to consider issuing subpoenas for witnesses and documents in the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump, the editorial boards of both The Washington Post and The New York Times noted their disapproval.

“Faced with credible evidence that a president was abusing his powers, the Senate would not muster the institutional self-respect to even investigate,” the Times wrote. “The vote Friday brings the nation face to face with the reality that the Senate has become nothing more than an arena for the most base and brutal — and stupid — power politics.” As a result, it added, Trump now feels emboldened to cheat in the 2020 election.

The Washington Post likewise noted that the reasons offered by senators voting against further investigation were indicative of political posturing. “[Their] public explanations,” its editorial board wrote, “were so weak and contradictory as to reveal themselves as pretexts.” Sens. Lisa Murkowski, Lamar Alexander, Marco Rubio and Ben Sasse were singled out.

The Senate trial has become a “farce” because of Republicans’ “cringing shamefulness,” the Post continued, with conviction being “the only choice for senators who honor the Constitution.”

A vote on the two articles of impeachment alleging abuse of power and obstruction of Congress are expected Wednesday, the day after Trump’s State of the Union address.