The first day of the Senate trial didn’t disappoint in terms of partisan banter. Mitch McConnell did his best to change the trial rules from the rules used in the Clinton impeachment. The changes McConnell made earned him the title of “Midnight Mitch” which sounds a little better than “Moscow Mitch” and the “Grim Reaper” moniker he likes to use when he describes his ability to block House bills.
Mitch had to change some rules after several Republicans demanded the Senator allow more time for both sides to present arguments. Instead of two days of arguments, the prosecution, and the defense will have three days to present their cases.
Calling witnesses is still up in the air. Senators will vote on hearing witness testimony after the arguments and after Senators have a chance to ask questions. According to some reports, four Republicans may vote to hear from witnesses like Bolton, Mulvaney, Pompeo, and other key players in the Ukraine affair.
Several news reports claim a few Senate Democrats want to present a solution that would allow Hunter or Joe Biden to testify if Bolton testifies. The White House made it clear it would block Bolton’s testimony using the power of executive privilege. It’s unclear if witnesses will be part of the trial at this point. Adam Schiff told senators a trial without witnesses and documents isn’t a fair trial, and it seems most Americans agree with that statement.
Meng Wanzhou’s extradition trial is in full gear again in Canada. The Chinese want Canada to release Meng from house arrest, so she can return to China. But the U.S. wants to get its hands on Huawei’s CFO in order to use her in the upcoming tech negotiations. The U.S. claims Meng violated Iran sanctions when she allegedly used a Hong Kong shell company to sell company products to Iran.
Huawei is number one in the 5G race, according to the Chinese. But Borje Ekholm, Ericsson’s CEO, told members of the Davos summit his company 5G technology is the best in the world. Mr. Ekholm said his company doesn’t get a free ride in the U.S. now that Huawei is on the blacklist.
Ekholm said Europe can build a 5G infrastructure without Huawei. But Germany’s Angela Merkel, the U.K.’s Boris Johnson, and French President Macron think Huawei’s 5G technology could work despite the claims Huawei spies for the Chinese government.
