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THREAD: My thoughts on the decision not to call witnesses. Please correct me if I'm wrong. This take is based on what I think I know, and there's much I don't know, but I do not understand why the dems didn't depose Rep. Beutler. Let's talk about the objections: 1/
First, many are saying it would drag this thing out and prevent Biden's agenda from moving forward. I don't see how that's possible. The senate had the votes to depose Rep. Beutler. We saw that with the 55-45 vote to allow witnesses. GOP can't filibuster that 2/
It would have taken probably a week to depose her and introduce her testimony into the senate record. The senate is scheduled to be in recess this week. The only thing a deposition of Beutler would have done is stopped the senate's vacation. 3/
Since everything would have been done in roughly a week, and the senate was scheduled for a week-long vacation, the deposition of Beutler wouldn't have delayed any of Biden's agenda. 4/
Next, many are saying Mitch threatened to filibuster Biden's agenda. That's also an empty threat. Cabinet confirmations require only a simple majority vote, and the Covid relief package is going through the budget reconciliation process so it's not subject to filibuster 5/
Many say Mitch threatened to filibuster all legislation NOT eligible for budget reconciliation such as the John Lewis Voting Rights Act. Mitch was already going to filibuster those, AND, senate dems can change the budget reconciliation rules to get them passed without the GOP 6/
Some say the dems have to allow the republicans to call witnesses, too. That's not true. If the dems wanted to depose ONLY Beutler, they could have voted with a simple majority to do so. 7/
The ONLY reason I can think the dems decided not to depose Beutler was if they didn't have the simple majority votes to ONLY depose Beutler. Can anyone think of any other reason NOT to depose only Beutler? 8/
You may say "well, it wouldn't change the GOP minds." That's true, but this has NEVER been about them, it's about getting the truth out to the public so THEY can judge republicans who vote to acquit. It's well established that a witness is better than a document. 9/
So, there may be something we aren't aware of, or there may be something I simply don't know, but with the available information, I can't for the life of me figure out why the dems wouldn't have deposed Beutler in this case. END
UPDATE: it is now being floated that calling witnesses could have in some way interfered with criminal prosecutions. More to come.
