Senate’s electronic-device ban bars Parnas from chamber
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.”
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.
