Skip to content

Senate’s electronic-device ban bars Parnas from chamber

Lev Parnas, a Rudy Giuliani associate with ties to Ukraine, right, and his attorney Joseph Bondy, walk through a Senate office building Wednesday. (Caroline Brehman/CQ Roll Call)
Lev Parnas, a Rudy Giuliani associate with ties to Ukraine, right, and his attorney Joseph Bondy, walk through a Senate office building Wednesday. (Caroline Brehman/CQ Roll Call)

Lev Parnas, the indicted associate of President Donald Trump and Rudy Giuliani, visited Capitol Hill to push for a “fair trial” in the Senate. In his words, that means “witnesses and evidence.”

The Florida businessman did not leave names on the table, specifically calling for the president to testify, as well as Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Attorney General William Barr and Giuliani.

He put a special emphasis on having former national security adviser John Bolton testify, saying “Bolton is the key. Between me and John Bolton, we put the dots together.”

[jwp-video n=”1″]

Parnas’ Wednesday morning visit coincided with the first day of the trial’s question-and-answer phase and included a trip to Sen. Chuck Schumer‘s office in the Hart  building.

Parnas once intended to spend time in the Senate Visitors’ Gallery to watch part of the impeachment trial proceedings. However, Senate rules bar the use of electronic devices in the chamber and Parnas is under court order to wear a GPS tracking device.

Parnas’ legal team did ask a judge to remove it for the visit, but the judge turned them down, effectively baring him from the gallery.

Recent Stories

‘Net neutral’: Shutdown unlikely to hobble Trump, former aides say

Capitol Ink | Backbone of the party

Trump signs spending bill to end longest government shutdown

Democrats weathering redistricting storm with majority in sight

House leaders seek repeal of Senate push for GOP payouts

Epstein discharge petition picks up decisive signature in the House