-Caveat Lector- >From Wash Post Lott Maps Impeachment Blueprint By Larry Margasak Associated Press Writer Wednesday, December 30, 1998; 11:45 a.m. EST WASHINGTON (AP) -- House prosecutors say they want to call witnesses at President Clinton's impeachment trial, which could begin Jan. 7 under a blueprint that Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott proposed to Democrats. The all-Republican prosecution team, holding its first strategy session Tuesday, did not decide who might be summoned to testify before the Senate, several of its members said. The House now must await a Senate timetable and a decision on whether witnesses will be permitted. In interviews with The Associated Press, neither Lott nor Senate Democratic leader Tom Daschle endorsed the plan of the 13-member prosecution team to call witnesses. Lott said he believed a trial could be held without witnesses. ``Are witnesses required? I don't think so,'' he told the AP. Senators from both parties have said they wanted to avoid a trial longer than several weeks, and it was unclear whether a decision to allow witnesses would make a quick trial impossible. Sen. Mike DeWine, R-Ohio, said today that censuring Clinton would weaken the presidency. If a Senate trial was short-circuited by censure, the president's defenders would view the House impeachment vote as ``a naked exercise of partisan political power,'' but would never have a chance to win acquittal for Clinton, DeWine said. ``And those who wish to remove the president will forever be denied the opportunity to be heard by the Senate. ``Denied the closure of a trial, I fear that censure would not end the civic ugliness in which we are currently mired,'' he said. Lott has begun addressing a timetable, said a Senate Democratic leadership source, speaking on condition of anonymity. Lott told Daschle that the trial could get its ceremonial start on Jan. 7, with senators getting sworn in as jurors by Chief Justice William Rehnquist, the source said. The trial could begin in earnest Jan. 11, under Lott's plan. The source said Daschle, D-S.D., has not agreed to the dates and neither has the White House. But the proposal shows that the Senate is prepared to move fast to try Clinton on two articles of impeachment -- accusing him of grand jury perjury and obstruction of justice in attempting to conceal an extramarital affair with former White House intern Monica Lewinsky. Rep. Bill McCollum, R-Fla., a senior member of the team of so-called managers, said a consensus emerged on calling witnesses without any formal votes in Tuesday's closed-door session. ``There was no show of hands. But I am anticipating, based on everything we've discussed in there today, that there would be witnesses, we would present witnesses. I don't think there's any question about that,'' he told reporters. Although no one was discussing names publicly, potential witnesses conceivably could include Ms. Lewinsky, presidential secretary Betty Currie and presidential friend Vernon Jordan. Lott said he wants senators to vote on removing Clinton from office before seriously considering censure as an alternative. ``I would prefer that there would be a vote on the articles of impeachment,'' he said. Daschle said the question about witnesses hadn't been resolved. ``It's fair to say that Senator Lott and I are both comfortable with proceeding without witnesses,'' he said, adding that it was a matter that would have to be discussed in party caucuses. He also said he has asked some senators to draft censure resolutions. ``There are a lot of different wordings. There are a lot of different scenarios,'' he said. At the White House, advisers were encouraged by the extensive talk of censure among senators. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, said a censure would be ``a powerful tool'' against Clinton. Speaking at a business seminar in Seatac, Wash., Hatch said Monday that censure was ``the only option left'' because two-thirds of the Senate would not vote to convict Clinton and remove him from office. One adviser to the White House, who spoke only on condition of anonymity, said Clinton's defense team would like the chance to ``dissect the evidence'' in an opening presentation. The adviser said some in the White House were interested in seeing how many senators might vote in favor of recessing the trial, if such a motion was made early on. ``If there are 38 votes or 40 votes, that might send a signal that there can't be a conviction and add pressure to accept censure,'' said the adviser, describing one scenario that has been discussed. Only 34 of the 100 senators are needed to assure Clinton's acquittal. There will be 45 Democratic senators and 55 Republicans in the new Congress. The House team has several formal prosecutors who said their professional experience told them that witnesses were needed -- especially in areas where Clinton's defense team contests the documentary evidence. ``I personally, as a former prosecutor, always like to have witnesses,'' said Rep. James Rogan of California. Rogan said that whether senators would allow witnesses was ``really sort of the big question. ... I would think that the Senate would allow the members of the House Judiciary Committee manager team to present the case as they feel it is appropriate to present it.'' � Copyright 1998 The Associated Press ~~~~~~~~~~~~ A<>E<>R The only real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes. -Marcel Proust + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material is distributed without charge or profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving this type of information for non-profit research and educational purposes only. DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance�not soapboxing! 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