Senators from Kansas vote not guilty on impeachment

U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, R- Kansas, and U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kansas, on Wednesday voted to acquit President Donald J. Trump at the Senate impeachment trial.

The Senate voted to acquit on a 52-48 on the first article and 53-47 to acquit on the second article.

Sen. Moran released a statement today about the vote:


“First, in order to avoid a system of government where the president serves at the political pleasure of Congress, the Framers intended impeachment and removal to be reserved for extreme and rare situations. The alleged facts contained in the articles and presented by the impeachment managers do not rise to this level,” Sen. Moran stated.

“Second, the House failed in its prosecutorial role by not presenting specific statutory charges against the president. Our Constitution demands of the justice system that prosecutors bring specific charges and prove each element of those charges beyond a reasonable doubt. In this case, neither of the articles passed by the House contain statutory allegations to which the Senate could determine whether the elements for conviction were met. On the floor, the House managers argued that the statutory crime of bribery was contained in the first Article of Impeachment related to abuse of power. In addition to the fact that there is no evidence in the record that satisfies the statutory elements of bribery, the Senate cannot substitute its own charges or charges made by House managers on the floor for those contained within the four corners of the House-passed Articles of Impeachment.

“Third, the House failed to meet its evidentiary burden and attempted to shift that burden to the Senate. Unwilling to give the judicial system the time to answer important questions of privilege in regards to specific witnesses that the House managers claimed were key to the case, the House moved forward with impeachment. The House managers argued at the beginning of the trial that they had overwhelming evidence supporting impeachment. It was surprising then that the House managers attempted to burden the Senate with issuing subpoenas and taking testimony from those witnesses that the House failed to pursue. Regardless, additional evidence or witnesses would not change the material underlying facts describing the president’s actions. These actions are not ‘high crimes and misdemeanors’ as described by the Constitution, and therefore, I voted no on conviction and removal of the president.”

Sen. Roberts made a speech on Tuesday about his vote.


“I will vote for acquittal,” Sen. Roberts said. “The prosecution did not prove President Trump committed any impeachable offense. I hope after this matter is concluded on Wednesday, the entire Congress can get back to the important work of the people.”
Sen. Roberts’ speech is on video at https://senatorroberts.app.box.com/s/yvvyso6p5jcqzh0mqxek5rolus8155tk.

Chiefs rally scene made into poster to benefit World War I Memorial

A photo of the Chiefs rally at Union Station in Kansas City, Missouri, on Wednesday is being made into a poster that will benefit the World War I Museum and Memorial. The photo is by Dave von Fintel.
Another photo being made into a poster depicted today’s crowd celebrating the Chiefs victory at the National World War I Museum and Memorial. Sales of the poster will benefit the museum. The photo is by Dan Videtich.

A poster of today’s rally honoring the Kansas City Chiefs, Super Bowl winners, in Kansas City, Missouri, is now a fan collector item that benefits the National World War I Museum and Memorial.

Two poster prints will be available, one of the World War I Museum and Memorial, which is 14 inches by 22 inches, and the other of the Union Station, 14 by 26.

Thousands of Chiefs fans are in the pictures.

Each print is $20 and can be purchased at: https://shop.theworldwar.org/collections/chiefs-2020.

The images were captured by award-winning photographers Dan Videtich and Dave von Fintel. Proceeds from sales of each poster benefit the National WWI Museum and Memorial, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that receives no federal funding.

Police notes

Aggravated domestic battery reported
Aggravated domestic battery was reported at 12:55 a.m. Feb. 5, according to a social media post by the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department.

A suspect beat and choked the victim over a few hours, according to the report. The victim was able to get a phone and call the police, the report stated. The suspect fled.

Motorcycle stolen at gunpoint
A victim reported that when he was sitting on his motorcycle, getting ready to leave, about 6:20 a.m. Feb. 4, he turned around to see a suspect pointing a gun at him, according to a social media post by the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department.

The suspect told him to get off the motorcycle and stole it, according to the report. The police stated it was a domestic-involved incident. The suspect has not been apprehended, according to the report.

Criminal threat reported at school

A criminal threat was reported at 2:51 p.m. Feb. 4 at a school, according to a social media post by the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department. Police did not identify the school. A victim said a handwritten note was found that made threats to harm people and shoot up the school, according to the report.

Shots fired at pedestrian
Shots were fired at a pedestrian, according to a police social media report at 6:50 p.m. Feb. 4 in the 6600 block of Parallel Parkway.

A victim stated that the victim was shot at while walking, according to the report. The victim did not notify police and went to work, according to the report. Security notified the police department, the report stated. The victim did not want to pursue the issue further, according to the report.

Aggravated battery reported on 10th Street
Aggravated battery was reported at 7:17 p.m. Feb. 4 in the 100 block of North 10th Street, according to a social media report by the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department.

During an altercation, the suspect struck the victim with an unknown object, causing the victim to pass out, according to the report. The victim also sustained a laceration, which required stitches, police stated.

Aggravated burglary reported on Kansas Avenue
A victim stated a suspect was inside a business lot in the 6200 block of Kansas Avenue about 10:49 p.m. Feb 4, according to a social media post by the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department. The suspect was looking into vehicles with flashlights, according to police.

The suspect took property from the vehicles, according to the report. The suspect was taken into custody, police stated.