President Donald Trump’s historic impeachment trial is underway on Capitol Hill.
The president’s impeachment trial — only the third in American history — makes for high political theater, with senators, congress members and lawyers all competing for the spotlight.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is keeping track of the trial’s most memorable lines, and we will continue to update.
"Don't wait for the book. Don't wait 'til March 17, when it is in black and white to find out the answer to your question."
— U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff, in reference to John Bolton’s forthcoming book about his experience as Trump’s national security adviser
"We trust the American people to decide who should be our president. Enough is Enough. Stop all of this."
—Trump attorney Eric Herschmann
"It cannot be impeachable."
— Alan Dershowitz, a member of Trump’s defense team, who told senators that every politician conflates his own interest with the public interest.
"It's embarrassing. The president is on trial in the Senate, but the Senate is on trial in the eyes of the American people ... So far I'm sad to say I see a lot of senators voting for a cover-up, voting to deny witnesses, an absolutely indefensible vote, obviously a treacherous vote."
— U.S. Rep. Jerrold Nadler, Democratic House impeachment manager
"The only one who should be embarrassed, Mr. Nadler is you, for the way you've addressed the United States Senate. This is the United States Senate. You're not in charge here ... It's about time we bring this power trip in for a landing."
— White House counsel Jay Sekulow
»Follow your senator’s vote on our impeachment tracker
"It is appropriate at this point for me to admonish both the House managers and the president's counsel in equal terms to remember that they are addressing the world's greatest deliberative body. One reason it has earned that title is because its members avoid speaking in a manner, and using language, that is not conducive to civil discourse. In the 1905 [Judge Charles] Swayne trial, a senator objected when one of the managers used the word 'pettifogging,' and the presiding officer said the word ought not to have been used. I don't think we need to aspire to that high a standard, but I do think those addressing the Senate should remember where they are."
— Chief Justice John Roberts
"It's a partisan impeachment they've delivered to your doorstep in an election year. Some of you should be in Iowa. They're not here to steal one election, they're here to steal two elections."
— White House counsel Pat Cipollone
"Yeah, we're making it hard for you. We're making it hard for you to say 'no.' We're making it hard for you to say, 'I don't want to hear from these people, I don't want to see the documents.' Our job is to make it hard to deprive the American people of a fair trial."
— U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff, House lead prosecutor
"The second article of impeachment was for obstruction of Congress: covering up witnesses and documents from the American people. This morning the president not only confessed to it, he bragged about it: 'Honestly, we have all the material. They don't have the material.' "
— U.S. Rep. Val Demings, House impeachment manager
"The McConnell rules seem to be designed by President Trump for President Trump. The McConnell resolution will result in a rushed trial with little evidence in the dark of night."
— Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer
"We are here, sir, because President Trump abused his power and then he tried to cover it up. And we are here, sir, to follow the facts, follow the law, be guided by the Constitution, and present the truth to the American people ... That is why we are here, Mr. Sekulow. And if you don't know, now you know."
— U.S. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, one of the House impeachment managers, quoting a lyric from The Notorious B.I.G. song, “Juicy”
"If I showed up in any court in this country and I said, 'Judge, my case is overwhelming, but I'm not ready to go yet. I need more evidence' ... I would get thrown out in two seconds. And that's exactly what should happen here."
— White House counsel Pat Cipollone
"Without objection, so ordered. Do I bang the gavel, right?"
— Chief Justice John Roberts
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