The significance of this development in the impeachment trial can’t be overstated. We are now going to have witnesses. Each witness can lead to other witnesses and new information. This can also prompt others with new evidence to come forward voluntarily.

The focus for now is on Trump’s conversation with Kevin McCarthy. That conversation goes to the critical issue of Trump’s actions and state of mind after the rioters breached the Capitol.

We’ve already seen evidence in the form of Trump’s tweet at 2:24 pm that he was attacking VP Pence after Trump knew that Pence was already in mortal danger. We’ve already heard the Trump was reportedly “delighted” at the mayhem unfolding in the Capitol.

Gathering more first-hand evidence of Trump being derelict in his duty and violating of his oath of office to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution is about informing jurors on the ultimate question of convicting Trump and disqualifying him from future office.

This is our constitutional obligation as Senators, as jurors, and people of conscience -- to have the trial, which is a search for the truth. We must get the evidence available to us. There must be accountability and justice.