Stephen Colbert and Seth Meyers seem pretty sure Senate Republicans will break their impeachment oaths


"On Friday, the House Judiciary Committee approved two articles of impeachment against our president," Stephen Colbert said on Monday's Late Show. "The vote was 23-17, along strictly partisan lines. That's right — not one Republican evidently has a problem with the president blackmailing a foreign government to get dirt on a political opponent. In a related story, the GOP has changed its mascot from an elephant to an ostrich."
"The full House is expected to vote on impeachment on Wednesday," then senators will act as the jury in President Trump's impeachment trial, Colbert said. "It is their constitutional duty to be impartial," but Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell "sees that just slightly differently," telling Fox News he is letting Trump's lawyers dictate how the trial will go and confidently predicting there's "no chance" Trump will be removed from office. "How is that okay?" Colbert asked. "Uh, spoiler alert! Don't tell me how democracy ends!"
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) isn't even pretending to be a "fair juror," Colbert noted. "Really? You should at least pretend. Because when the trial starts, the oath you take actually says 'I solemnly swear ... I will do impartial justice according to the Constitution and laws, so help me God.' So, to cover up for Donald Trump, a man you loathe, you're going to raise your right hand and lie to God? You're going to betray the man upstairs for a man who's afraid to walk down stairs?"
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"Republicans are doing everything they can to rig the Senate trial" in Trump's favor, "trying to cheat in the trial about the cheating," Seth Meyers said at Late Night. Graham and McConnell "have said explicitly their only goal is to end the trial as quickly as possible, call zero witnesses, and take their marching orders directly from the president himself," and Graham is so open in his bragging about not being a fair juror, he "sounds like a dude who's just making stuff up to get out of jury duty," Meyers said. "This is the Republican Party of Trump: A party that sees any challenge to its power as illegitimate, that's fine with cheating to win elections, and that rigs trials to avoid consequences for that cheating." Watch below. Peter Weber
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
Jasveen Sangha and the ketamine 'Wild West' of Hollywood
In The Spotlight Arrest of the 'ketamine queen' accused of supplying Friends star Matthew Perry with deadly dose has turned spotlight on a showbiz drug problem
-
Confessions of a Brain Surgeon: an 'exceptional' documentary
The Week Recommends Retired neurosurgeon Henry Marsh reflects on his pioneering work with exquisitely 'raw honesty'
-
A new subtype of diabetes was found and it may require different treatment
Under the radar It is prevalent in Black Africans and Americans
-
Trump to host Kennedy Honors for Kiss, Stallone
Speed Read Actor Sylvester Stallone and the glam-rock band Kiss were among those named as this year's inductees
-
White House seeks to bend Smithsonian to Trump's view
Speed Read The Smithsonian Institution's 21 museums are under review to ensure their content aligns with the president's interpretation of American history
-
Charlamagne Tha God irks Trump with Epstein talk
Speed Read The radio host said the Jeffrey Epstein scandal could help 'traditional conservatives' take back the Republican Party
-
CBS cancels Colbert's 'Late Show'
Speed Read 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert' is ending next year
-
A long weekend in Zürich
The Week Recommends The vibrant Swiss city is far more than just a banking hub
-
Shakespeare not an absent spouse, study proposes
speed read A letter fragment suggests that the Shakespeares lived together all along, says scholar Matthew Steggle
-
New Mexico to investigate death of Gene Hackman, wife
speed read The Oscar-winning actor and his wife Betsy Arakawa were found dead in their home with no signs of foul play
-
Giant schnauzer wins top prize at Westminster show
Speed Read Monty won best in show at the 149th Westminster Kennel Club dog show