A secret complaint from the whistleblower, whose name is not publicly known, detailed a July phone call between Trump and Zelenskiy in which Trump urged the probe. It also revealed White House efforts to keep the conversation private.
The subpoena comes as Republican Leader Mitch McConnell said Monday that Senate rules would require him to take up any articles of impeachment against Trump if approved by the House, swatting down talk that that the GOP-controlled chamber could dodge the matter entirely.
“I would have no choice but to take it up,” McConnell said on CNBC. But he cautioned, “How long you’re on it is a whole different matter.”
If the House approves articles of impeachment — not introduced at this point — they would be sent to the Senate for trial. McConnell suggested he does not have the 67 votes to change the rules. But the Kentucky Republican, the Senate’s chief strategist, left open what he means by taking up the issue.
Those tricky procedural questions could affect Trump’s political future and next year’s presidential and congressional election. Democrats have launched a coordinated political, messaging and polling strategy aimed at keeping any backlash in closely divided districts from toppling their House majority.