Sworn to silence, senators make their views on impeachment known with nods and tweets

WASHINGTON — As the rules that will govern the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump were argued in front of them, senators who are acting as jurors in the trial face the “pain of imprisonment” if they speak, but both of Texas’ senators still found ways to express themselves Tuesday.

Materials were piled high on the desks of Sens. Ted Cruz and John Cornyn, and both took occasional notes as the debate proceeded.

As the House impeachment managers and Trump’s lawyers made their cases, Cornyn kept a stoic expression throughout much of the day.

Cruz occasionally reacted to the arguments.

When Trump’s deputy counsel, Patrick Philbin, responded to accusations that the Senate’s trial is “predetermined” by saying, “That’s exactly what happened in the House,” Cruz emphatically nodded his head.

Cruz also expressed himself with an assist from his Twitter accounts.

Senate staffers often have access to their boss’ social media accounts, something Cruz took full advantage of despite the ban on cell phones in the chamber during the trial.

At least 10 tweets were sent from Cruz’s two Twitter accounts while the trial was proceeding and Cruz was sitting on the Senate floor. Cruz’s accounts attacked Democrats’ arguments, even sending out a joke after a former Hillary Clinton campaign staffer questioned how Cruz was tweeting during the trial. Cruz’s account tweeted a photo of the famous “Come and take it” Gonzales flag from the Texas Revolution — with a cell phone replacing the cannon.

Cruz’s staff later clarified that the senator was not personally sending any tweets during the trial, and he did not have his phone with him on the Senate floor.

Cornyn’s Twitter account only sent one tweet during Tuesday’s proceedings, during a brief recess that allowed the senators to leave the room.

Shortly before 7 p.m. in Washington, Cruz left the chamber for about 15 minutes while the trial was underway. Other senators came and went throughout the day, generally leaving for only a few minutes at a time.

During his absence from the trial, Cruz’s official Senate Twitter account tweeted a video of Minority Leader Chuck Schumer advocating against a Senate trial for President Bill Clinton more than 20 years ago. Spokeswoman Lauren Aronson said a Cruz aide sent the tweet.

The senators weren’t the only Texans in the chamber.

Rep. Sylvia Garcia, D-Houston, and Rep. John Ratcliffe, R-Heath, both play key roles in the trial.

Garcia serves as one of the seven impeachment managers for the House, effectively the prosecution team. On Monday night the White House named Ratcliffe to the defense team. Neither spoke during the first six hours of the trial.

Trump ally Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Tyler, was also in the chamber, seated in the back with Reps. Mark Meadows, R-N.C., and Lee Zeldin, R-N.Y. The three shook their heads and quietly whispered to each other at one point while Calif. Rep Adam Schiff, the lead impeachment manager, was making an argument.

“There is probably more of a visceral rejection of Adam Schiff’s words when you’re in there on the Senate floor,” Meadows told reporters later. “I found myself wanting to stand up and object.”