The jurors for this trial were the Senators -- virtually all of whom had already made up their minds based on politics, not evidence. But Americans were the audience and we needed to hear the best, most complete case of what happened. We didn't get that.
I think you're entirely correct in your point and your hypothetical was entertaining to read.
But I think for Dems the decision was different. They knew they couldn't win. The GOP knew what had happened and had made their decision. Additional evidence wasn't going to change enough minds to get a conviction.
You rightly ask why start the trial at all since that was known from the beginning. I think the answer is that they wanted to make it clear to the US public what had happened. They were balancing that against the political costs from the GOP. Once the GOP made it clear they would go to war over witnesses the Dem's backed down.
The jurors for this trial were the Senators -- virtually all of whom had already made up their minds based on politics, not evidence. But Americans were the audience and we needed to hear the best, most complete case of what happened. We didn't get that.
I think you're entirely correct in your point and your hypothetical was entertaining to read.
But I think for Dems the decision was different. They knew they couldn't win. The GOP knew what had happened and had made their decision. Additional evidence wasn't going to change enough minds to get a conviction.
You rightly ask why start the trial at all since that was known from the beginning. I think the answer is that they wanted to make it clear to the US public what had happened. They were balancing that against the political costs from the GOP. Once the GOP made it clear they would go to war over witnesses the Dem's backed down.
https://www.kcrg.com/2021/02/13/joni-ernst-to-ny-times-reporter-on-impeachment-trial-total-total-s-show/