Senate Democrats grow impatient waiting for Pelosi to send articles for Trump impeachment trial

Senate Democrats are growing impatient for the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump, as the impasse continues over sending the articles of impeachment from the Democratic House to the Republican-led Senate.

"We're ready, willing and able," said Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., a former state attorney general. "I'm ready to go to court and try this case."

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., has delayed sending the two articles, which accuse Trump of abuse of power and obstruction Congress, until she learns more about how the Senate trial will be conducted.

A big sticking point between the two sides is whether witnesses will be allowed to testify during the Senate trial. Democrats have argued the trial should include witnesses who didn't testify during the House inquiry. But Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., announced Tuesday he has the votes to begin the trial without making a decision on witnesses. But McConnell said he won't hold the vote until the Senate receives the articles.

McConnell said the trial rules would be modeled on those for former President Bill Clinton's trial in 1999. House managers, who serve as prosecutors, and White House lawyers, who serve as defense lawyers, would give opening statements. Then senators would submit questions to each side through Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, who will preside. After those steps, senators could vote on witnesses.

Pelosi declined to comment Wednesday when reporters asked about sending the articles to the Senate. But she told fellow House Democrats in a letter Tuesday that McConnell should publish the rules the Senate will follow in the trial. She has argued she needs to know the rules in order to decide who and how many managers she should appoint to prosecute the case.