All eyes will be on Senate President Pro Tempore Patty Murray (D-WA) when she presides over the impeachment trial of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas in the coming days.
The trial will thrust Murray, who largely keeps a low profile despite being a member of Democratic leadership and chairwoman of the influential Appropriations Committee, into the spotlight in her role as presiding officer. Murray regularly presides over the Senate in her capacity as president pro tem, a role that places her third in line to the presidency, though she is not as frequently at center stage.
The presiding officer role is largely ceremonial, with Murray’s primary responsibility being to administer the oath of office to senators at the start of the trial. Murray will also be a juror alongside her colleagues, as former Sen. Read more…
