Schumer, McConnell Agree To Delay Trump's Impeachment Trial Until Week of Feb. 8

The impeachment trial against former President Donald Trump will start on the week of February 8, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced on Friday.

Schumer also explained the impeachment trial agreement between him and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell following the January 13 impeachment against Trump by the House.

Laying out the timeline of the impeachment trial, Schumer said House impeachment managers would come to the Senate to read the article of impeachment on Monday, January 25.

On the day after, Senators will be sworn in as members of the impeachment court. It is during this time that House impeachment managers and Trump's defense team draft their legal briefs. While the camps prepare for the impeachment trial, senators will move on to other work.

The February 8 start of the impeachment trial will first have a presentation by both sides. Trump faces impeachment for a single article that charges him for inciting an insurrection in connection to the January 6 Capitol riot.

February Impeachment Trial Gives Time for Transition, Preparation

As reported by Voice of America, a delayed start in the impeachment trial allows time to confirm President Joe Biden's Cabinet nominations and look into Biden's planned $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package.

So far, only two of Biden's picks have been confirmed: Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.

USA Today said in a report that lawmakers have also negotiated the timing of the trial. McConnell argued that the trial needed to be delayed so the former president would have time to prepare.

Doug Andres, a spokesperson for McConnell, told CBS News that the schedule was "a win for due process and fairness."

Andres added that McConnell was "glad" that Schumer agreed to the GOP's request for more time on the pre-trial phase.

He noted that with the "fast and minimal process" in the House, Republicans wanted to make sure that the trial would respect Trump's rights and due process, the Senate and the presidency.

Senator Lindsey Graham, a close ally to Trump, also agreed that the schedule was "fair to all concerned."

Trump Vows He'll 'Do Something, But Not Just Yet'

One of the first words Trump said to a journalist since leaving the office on Wednesday was, "We'll do something, but not just yet," reported Washington Examiner.

This interaction that happened at Trump's golf club was immediately halted after an aide to the former president swooped in to politely stop the conversation.

Unlike former presidents, Trump chose to skip his successor's inauguration. He was also blocked by several social media sites, leaving him with little spaces to air out his thoughts on the impeachment trial.

On his first few days as a private citizen, Trump has mostly been in seclusion and was regularly seen hitting the links at his private golf club in Florida.

He didn't hint much on what he plans to do in the months, or even years, to come. On his first two full days out of office, Trump has played golf. His motorcade traveled a short distance from his Mar-a-Lago club to his golf course on both days.

"He needs a break. I think we all hope he just plays golf for a month, but he always has to be on the go," an aide said earlier in the week. Trump had a small staff list with him in Florida, who are working out of the Mar-a-Lago club.