Executive privilege standoff could roil Trump impeachment trial timeline

‘Do we recess then, or what do we do?’

A legal fight over executive privilege in the middle of the Senate’s impeachment trial of President Donald Trump could put it into suspended animation.

If senators ultimately decide to subpoena Trump administration documents or seek witness testimony, House Democratic managers might have to decide whether to now wage court battles that were avoided during the House phase of the impeachment process.

Senate Judiciary Chairman Lindsey Graham has said in recent days that the Senate would either need to honor the claims that would likely be made by the White House regarding testimony from witnesses like acting Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney and former national security adviser John Bolton, or go to the federal courts. Continue reading.