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(CNSNews.com) – Rep. John Ratcliffe (R-Texas) told Fox News on Tuesday that he agrees with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) that there can’t be a fair trial in the Senate and that there was a cover-up, but the cover-up was when House Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) lied about his contact with the whistleblower.



Schumer told reporters on Monday that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s (R-Ky.) resolution, calling it “a national disgrace.”







McConnell “is saying that he doesn't want to hear any of the existing evidence, and he doesn't want any new evidence. A trial where there is no evidence, no existing record, and no new evidence, no witnesses, no documents, that isn't a trial at all. It is a cover-up,” Schumer said.



In an interview with “America’s Newsroom,” Ratcliffe responded to Schumer’s comments, saying, “Actually, I agree with Chuck Schumer that there can't be a fair trial and that there was a cover-up, but not for the reasons that he thinks.



“The cover up happened when Adam Schiff, who everyone knows was not truthful about his contact with the whistle-blower, what they don't know is that the whistle-blower was not truthful under oath about his contacts with Congressman Schiff, and there is a transcript that reflects that. It's the inspector general's transcript. It's the only one out of 18 transcripts that has not been released by Congressman Schiff,” Ratcliffe said.



“So there is a cover-up there, and that is what prevents a fair trial here, is the person in charge of this investigation was judge, jury, prosecutor,” the congressman added.



“These are Adam Schiff's facts, and you can't wave a magic wand and inject fairness into a process that a conflicted witness controlled from beginning to end. I think every senator - Republican and Democrat - is going to come to that realization and that I think early on there's going to be a motion to acquit President Trump, and I think that's going to be supported on a bipartisan basis,” Ratcliffe said.



Ratcliffe, who serves on the House Judiciary Committee is one of eight congressmen who have joined President Donald Trump’s defense team. The others are: Reps. Doug Collins (R-Ga.), Mike Johnson (R-La.), Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), Debbie Lesko (R-Ariz.), Mark Meadows (R-N.C.), Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), Lee Zeldin (R-N.Y.).



As it stands now, Ratcliffe will not have a speaking role on the Senate floor, “but you never know what's going to happen during a trial,” he said.



“Part of the reason we are there is to hold accountable some of the House managers, in particular, the lead House manager, Adam Schiff, and make sure the evidence is presented the way it occurred in the House. If that doesn't happen, there may be a change in the trial structure,” Ratcliffe said.



He said he doesn’t think there will be any witnesses called during the Senate trial.



“There isn't a witness that can be called that can fix this process. There isn't a witness on either side you can call that can inject fairness and due process into a process that had none,” Ratcliffe said.



“I think one of the things your listeners are going to hear this week is a comparison of what happened, the disparity in the way President Clinton and President Nixon were treated during their impeachment inquiries as opposed to President Trump. The Nixon and Clinton lawyers were allowed to participate every single day from the beginning to the end,” the congressman said.



“They were allowed to review evidence, to suggest evidence, to call witnesses, and to cross-examine witnesses. By comparison, President Trump during the 78-day impeachment inquiry, his lawyers were forbidden from participating for the first 71 of a 78-day process - not allowed to call witnesses, cross-examine witnesses, be there for the presentation or review of evidence,” Ratcliffe said.



“That’s a lack of due process and fairness that I think all senators - Republican and Democrat - are going to be surprised to learn, and I think as a result of that, they are not going to want to hear any witnesses, because the Senate isn't going to be able to fix what happened in the House,” he added.



When asked what surprises are in store as the trial begins Tuesday afternoon, Ratcliffe said, “I think the Senate defense team, as they prepare and present this, are going to point out the fact that, again, the irony of the House Democrats wanting to impeach a president for obstructing House Democrats in a 78-day process where they forbid him from participating for the first 71 days.



“People are going to find it ironic that the House Democrats are wanting to impeach for obstruction of Congress - a term that the founders referred to as the separation of powers. They can't make constitutional arguments, because they don't have any. This impeachment fails. It fails factually. It fails legally. It fails constitutionally,” he said.



“This is going to be like killing a fly with a sledgehammer. The House Democrats had a weak case even on a slanted playing field where they made the rules, changed the rules, and broke the rules to their advantage. On a level playing field, it's going to get ugly. I expect a short trial, no witnesses, and early acquittal for President Trump,” Ratcliffe said.





