New Poll: 57% Say Chief Justice Roberts Should Rule in Favor of Witnesses at Trump Impeachment Trial
In National YouGov Blue Survey, 67% Say it’s Up to Roberts to Ensure Trial is Fair Rather than Leave Process Totally Up to Senators
WASHINGTON, DC—Demand Justice released new polling Thursday showing that a clear majority of registered voters believe that Chief Justice John Roberts is obligated to ensure the rules of President Trump’s impeachment trial are fair––not leave the process up to the Senate to decide––and that he should rule in favor of witnesses testifying.
According to a national survey of registered voters conducted by YouGov Blue, 67 percent of respondents believe that Roberts has an obligation to ensure the rules of the impeachment trial are fair, while only 22 percent think it should be left up to the Senate to decide. Voters also agree by more than a 2-to-1 margin that Roberts should rule in favor of allowing witnesses at the trial (57% support, while just 25% oppose).
This overwhelming support for Roberts ruling in favor of witnesses comes as news broke that former National Security Advisor John Bolton could provide explosive new evidence if he faced a subpoena.
“John Roberts clearly wants to avoid the hot seat, but the public is expecting him to ensure the impeachment trial includes witnesses and is not just a coverup to protect Trump,” said Demand Justice Executive Director Brian Fallon. “Roberts is not going to be able to remain a potted plant during this whole trial or else it will make him complicit in Republicans’ sham proceeding.”
On Monday, Demand Justice announced digital ads targeting Roberts and urging Americans to call the Supreme Court and demand that he do his job and ensure a fair trial.
The polling on Roberts was conducted on behalf of Demand Justice as part of YouGov Blue’s national online omnibus survey. YouGov Blue sampled 1,033 registered voters on January 24, 2020. The poll has a margin of error of +/- 3.8%.
The full texts of the poll questions can be found below.
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