Schiff Blows Finale: ‘Head on Pike’ Impeachment Trial Comment Angers Republican Senators; Murkowski: “That’s where he lost me”

Lead House Manager Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) angered Republican senators at the Trump impeachment trial Friday night by citing a CBS News report claiming an anonymous Trump “confidant” had said any GOP senators who voted against Trump would have their heads on pikes. There were audible grumblings and cries of “not true” heard by reporters in the gallery. Schiff managed to alienate Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), one of the few Republicans whom Democrats and the media believe are persuadable on impeachment.

“Murkowski is PISSED “He was going fine with moral courage until he got to head on a pike. That’s where he lost me”

Murkowski is PISSED

“He was going fine with moral courage until he got to head on a pike. That’s where he lost me”

— Burgess Everett (@burgessev) January 25, 2020

Schiff made the comments during the finale of the Democrat Managers’ three day presentation of their case to convict and remove President Trump from office on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. Schiff and his fellow House and Senate Democrats are frustrated that Republicans, who control the Senate with a 53 seat majority, are not supporting their efforts to open the trial to new witnesses and evidence.

Original CBS report from Thursday night by Nancy Cordes: “In opening statements, House managers examined the debunked conspiracy theories invoked by Pres. Trump. A @POTUS confidant tells CBS News that GOP senators were warned: “vote against the president & your head will be on a pike.”

In opening statements, House managers examined the debunked conspiracy theories invoked by Pres. Trump.

A @POTUS confidant tells CBS News that GOP senators were warned: “vote against the president & your head will be on a pike.”

Here's @nancycordes https://t.co/LV1Y6QveIh pic.twitter.com/tLB9EpoWr8

— CBS Evening News (@CBSEveningNews) January 23, 2020

Video of Schiff citing the report during his closing statement Friday night:

“CBS News reported last night that a Trump confidante said that GOP senators were warned ‘vote against your President, vote against the President and your head will be on a pike’. I don’t know if that’s true: ‘Vote against the president and your head will be on a pike’. I have to say when I read that, and again I don’t know if that’s true, but when I read that I was struck by the irony, by the irony. I hope it’s not true, I hope it’s not true. But I was struck by the irony of the idea when we’re talking about a president who would make himself a monarch, that whoever that was would use the terminology of a penalty that was imposed by a monarch: a head on a pike.”

Reaction:

“Republicans are VERY angry about Schiff’s decision to reference that CBS “head on a pike” report. Murkowski says “that’s where he lost me.” Barrasso says “whatever gains he may have made, he lost all of it — plus some — tonight.”

Republicans are VERY angry about Schiff’s decision to reference that CBS “head on a pike” report. Murkowski says “that’s where he lost me.” Barrasso says “whatever gains he may have made, he lost all of it — plus some — tonight.”

— Emily Cochrane (@ESCochrane) January 25, 2020

“That’s not true,” Susan Collins said several times on the floor, shaking her head when Schiff cited a news report saying WH warned senators that a vote against Trump means “your head will be on a pike.” Risch also said aloud: “That’s not true.” Cotton laughed when Schiff said it”

“That’s not true,” Susan Collins said several times on the floor, shaking her head when Schiff cited a news report saying WH warned senators that a vote against Trump means “your head will be on a pike.” Risch also said aloud: “That’s not true.” Cotton laughed when Schiff said it

— Manu Raju (@mkraju) January 25, 2020

“Inside the chamber, GOP senators grumbled and shook their heads ‘no’ when @RepAdamSchiff mentioned this head on a pike report. @SenatorCollins said loudly at Schiff: “not true!”

Inside the chamber, GOP senators grumbled and shook their heads ‘no’ when @RepAdamSchiff mentioned this head on a pike report. @SenatorCollins said loudly at Schiff: “not true!” https://t.co/PSY58IdVzb

— Marisa Schultz (@marisa_schultz) January 25, 2020

“GOP OK Sen Lankford on Schiff’s ‘head on a pike’ comment: I was visibly upset with it. The whole room was visibly upset on our side..that’s insulting and demeaning to everyone to say that we somehow live in fear and that the President has threatened all of us”

GOP OK Sen Lankford on Schiff's 'head on a pike' comment: I was visibly upset with it. The whole room was visibly upset on our side..that's insulting and demeaning to everyone to say that we somehow live in fear and that the President has threatened all of us

— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) January 25, 2020

“ERNST on Schiff mentioning ‘head on a pike’: “I was listening, until he got to the part where he just completely made a bunch of bullcrap up…Ohhhh, a confidant of the president told me that heads are gonna roll if you don’t hang together. That’s baloney.”

ERNST on Schiff mentioning 'head on a pike': “I was listening, until he got to the part where he just completely made a bunch of bullcrap up…Ohhhh, a confidant of the president told me that heads are gonna roll if you don't hang together. That's baloney.”

— Frank Thorp V (@frankthorp) January 25, 2020

“From colleague Jason Donner. Sen. Lisa Murkowski on Schiff’s ‘head on pike’ comments “It was unnecessary” & Sen. John Barrasso “No republican senator has been told that.” Murkowksi: “He was doing fine with moral courage until he got on the head on the pike.”

From colleague Jason Donner. Sen. Lisa Murkowski on Schiff's 'head on pike' comments "It was unnecessary" & Sen. John Barrasso "No republican senator has been told that."

Murkowksi: “He was doing fine with moral courage until he got on the head on the pike.”

— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) January 25, 2020

UPDATE: Collins issues statement, “New COLLINS stmt on Schiff mentioning “head on a pike” report: “Not only have I never heard the ‘head on the pike’ line but also I know of no Republican Senator who has been threatened in any way by anyone in the Administration.”

New COLLINS stmt on Schiff mentioning “head on a pike” report: “Not only have I never heard the ‘head on the pike’ line but also I know of no Republican Senator who has been threatened in any way by anyone in the Administration.”

— Frank Thorp V (@frankthorp) January 25, 2020

More reactions:

“3. “Head on a pike”. When Schiff quoted CBS story about Trump warning sen’s their head wld be on pike if voted against POTUS. Effect: Offended 1/2 the audience. Saw Sens Lankford, Cotton, Sasse, Ernst + Loffler(!) say outloud variations of ‘not true!”. Audible groans from many.”

3. "Head on a pike". When Schiff quoted CBS story about Trump warning sen's their head wld be on pike if voted against POTUS.

Effect: Offended 1/2 the audience. Saw Sens Lankford, Cotton, Sasse, Ernst + Loffler(!) say outloud variations of 'not true!". Audible groans from many.

— Lisa Desjardins (@LisaDNews) January 25, 2020

“Witnessed this in real time. A number of Republican senators looked visibly angry and whispered to each other right after Rep Schiff cited a CBS report that Republicans’ heads would be on a “pike” if they voted to remove President Trump.”

Witnessed this in real time. A number of Republican senators looked visibly angry and whispered to each other right after Rep Schiff cited a CBS report that Republicans’ heads would be on a “pike” if they voted to remove President Trump. https://t.co/5mE9KgIYaG

— Yamiche Alcindor (@Yamiche) January 25, 2020

The post Schiff Blows Finale: ‘Head on Pike’ Impeachment Trial Comment Angers Republican Senators; Murkowski: “That’s where he lost me” appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.