McConnell says he will coordinate with the White House on impeachment

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Thursday evening that he plans to follow directions from President Donald Trump’s lawyers during an expected upcoming impeachment trial.

“Everything I do during this, I’m coordinating with White House counsel,” McConnell (R-Ky.) told Fox News host Sean Hannity.

“We’ll be working through this process, hopefully in a short period of time, in total coordination with the White House counsel’s office,” McConnell continued.

“I’m going to take my cues from the president’s lawyers.”

The majority leader met with White House lawyer Pat Cipollone on Thursday to talk about a Senate impeachment trial, which many expect to begin after the Christmas holiday.

House Democrats have signaled they will vote to return articles of impeachment against President Trump over alleged abuse of power and obstructing Congress before Christmas.

The articles then go to the House floor for a vote that Speaker Nancy Pelosi said would take place next week.

For his part, McConnell has repeatedly said he does not believe the president will be removed from office.

McConnell has repeatedly expressed confidence that Trump will not be removed from office.

The White House reportedly said Thursday that the president would like to see a lengthy trial because he believes it will be politically unpopular for Democrats.

Also, reports said the White House wants to depose Democrat witnesses to expose them for falsehoods made during House impeachment hearings last month and this month.