The impending Senate impeachment trial of President Donald Trump took center stage during a panel discussion on CNN Thursday night when former Bush ethics lawyer Richard Painter took Rick Santorum to the woodshed for whining in defense of Trump.

Two articles of impeachment, one for abuse of power and one for obstruction of Congress, were passed just over a week ago by the full House, which have drawn never-ending bellyaching from Trump supporters.

They are also whining about House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) not sending the articles of impeachment to the Senate until Republicans agree to run a fair trial featuring witness testimony instead of a rigged circus trial in Trump’s favor.

Painter, who has been a frequent critic of Trump, argued on Thursday that the Senate trial should be a fair trial.

“I think the House Democrats did everything they could in view of what’s going on with the Trump administration,” Painter began. “They have gone to court to compel a lot of evidence being produced by the Trump administration, and they’ve been fought every step of the way. A number of the cases are going to be decided by the United States Supreme Court next year. But this trial is going to take place in the Senate as a fair trial. It is presided over by the Chief Justice of the United States. This is a trial. It’s not a political game. The oath of loyalty is to the United States of America, not to Donald Trump. These senators, Democrats and Republicans, have an obligation to hear the facts, to hear witnesses, and make a decision.”

Indeed, all senators take an oath before the impeachment trial begins, but they are already violating that oath before they even recite it, with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) being the worst offenders.

“For Mitch McConnell to say he is working with the White House, coordinating with the defendant in this trial before the trial has even begun, is atrocious,” Painter continued. “He may think he is a judge impaneling an all-white jury for a Klansman trial in Mississippi. That is not the kind of trial we have.”

Of course, Santorum accused Senate Democrats of rigging former President Bill Clinton’s impeachment trial in 1999.

“I’m sorry. You’re being absurd,” Santorum whined. “I saw what [former Senator] Tom Daschle did in 1998, and I don’t think you were complaining one bit about him carrying the water for the president. This is typical, and I think completely appropriate. It is up to the Senate to make the rules. There is no requirement in the Senate to listen to witnesses. If Republicans concede and give witnesses to the Democrats, I can tell you there will be a lot of Republicans who want witnesses the Democrats don’t want. So this is a very, very double-edged sword for both parties as they walk down this process.”

Keep in mind that House Republicans impeached Clinton for lying about a consensual affair, nothing that rises to the crimes Trump has committed as part of his Ukraine scandal. Furthermore, Senate Democrats allowed witness testimony, including from Monica Lewinsky herself. The Senate would go on to acquit Clinton, including several Republicans.

What Senate Republicans are suggesting is that no witness testimony be heard and that a vote for acquittal by held as soon as possible. They don’t even want to consider the damning evidence and witness testimony because they know it would bury Trump and tie their hands. It would be a purely partisan charade.

“It shouldn’t be partisan. It should be about America,” Painter replied. “Our loyalty is to the United States of America. And our senators take an oath to the country.”

Defeated on that point, Santorum turned to attacking the House.

“Do you think that’s what happened in the House?” Santorum said.

“The House did their job. This president should have been impeached years ago,” Painter concluded. “This president has not conducted himself in accordance with the Constitution.”

Here’s the video via YouTube:

Again, House Republicans impeached Clinton over a lie about an extramarital affair, not even close to the “high crimes and misdemeanors” laid out by the Constitution. Bribery, on the other hand, is explicitly mentioned by the Constitution and that’s exactly what Trump did by freezing military aid to Ukraine in order to force Ukraine to find dirt on his political rival ahead of the 2020 Election.

Even without several witnesses, Trump blocked from testifying, the evidence and other testimony make it clear that Trump should be impeached and removed from office. The House did their part. Now it’s time for Senate Republicans to choose loyalty to the country and the Constitution over their loyalty to a corrupt president.

Featured Image: YouTube screenshot