Rand Paul bashes Democrats over impeachment trial: ‘The antithesis of unity’

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) on Tuesday said Democrats choosing to carry out the second impeachment trial of former President Trump “is the antithesis of unity.”

Paul condemned the Democratic Party for what he in a Twitter thread called a “nothing more than a partisan exercise designed to further divide the country.”

This impeachment is nothing more than a partisan exercise designed to further divide the country. Democrats claim to want unify the country but impeaching a former president, a private citizen, is the antithesis of unity.

— Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) January 26, 2021

“Democrats claim to want unify the country but impeaching a former president, a private citizen, is the antithesis of unity,” Paul wrote referring to President Biden’s consistent calls to bring the country together.

Paul continued on, claiming the Democratic Party’s appointment of Senate President Pro Tempore Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) to preside over the trial, which is scheduled to begin on Feb. 8, is evidence of unfairness. 

“Democrats brazenly appointing a pro impeachment democrat to preside over the trial is not fair or impartial and hardly indicates any kind of unity for the country,” he wrote. “No, unity is the opposite of this travesty we are about to witness.”

The Kentucky senator closed by reiterating that he would push for a vote on the constitutionality of carrying out Trump’s impeachment trial when he is no longer president.

“I want this body on record. Is this how you think politics should be? In a few minutes I will insist on a vote to affirm that this proceeding is unconstitutional,” he wrote.

Paul reiterated his vow to secure a vote on the trial in a recent interview with conservative commentator Glenn Beck.

“My hope is to get 40 Republicans to vote with me and if they do, that shows that they don’t have the votes to impeach at that point,” Paul said.

Paul has been vocal about his opposition to an impeachment trial for Trump, including in a recent op-ed for The Hill.

“This so-called impeachment is a farce and should be dismissed before it is even allowed to begin,” he wrote.