PresidentDonald Trump‘s ongoing impeachment trial didn’t stop the Senate from taking note of the sudden death of NBA legendKobe Bryantand histeenage daughterthis week.Prior to every session in the Senate, Chaplain Barry Black invokes a ceremonial prayer. On Thursday, Black included a prayer for Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, and the seven other passengerswho were killed in a Sunday helicopter crashoutside Los Angeles.“As millions mourn the deaths of Kobe and Gianna Bryant, and those who died with them, we think about life’s brevity, uncertainty, and legacy,” Black prayed before Thursday’s session began. “Remind us that we all have a limited time on Earth to leave the world better than we found it.”Black continued: “As this impeachment process unfolds, give our senators the desire to make the most of their time on earth. Teach them how to live, oh God, and lead them along the path of honesty.”Drew Angerer/AP/Shutterstock; Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagicBryant, the 41-year-old retired superstar regarded as one of the best basketball players to ever play the game, has been widely honored in the NBA and beyond.Memorials andmuralshave popped up all across L.A., where Bryant played his entire 20-year career with the Lakers, while athletes from other sports have been paying tribute to him in many ways — from international soccer players holding up Bryant’s “24” with their fingers to celebrate goals to NBA teams purposely taking 24-second shot clock violations.Both President Trump and former PresidentBarack Obamashared their sadness on Twitter, while L.A. officials considered local honors such as naming a street after Bryant.“Kobe was a legend on the court and just getting started in what would have been just as meaningful a second act,” Obamatweetedthis week. “To lose Gianna is even more heartbreaking to us as parents. Michelle and I send love and prayers to Vanessa and the entire Bryant family on an unthinkable day.”RELATED VIDEO: Celebrities Rally Around Vanessa Bryant After She Speaks Out About the Deaths of Kobe and GiannaThe Senate prayer for the victims of the helicopter crash was a mournful note in what has been a contentious impeachment trial, which continued this week with Trump’s defense team making its case and then questions from the senators for both sides.The Senate will vote Friday to decide whether to allow additional witnesses in the case to testify. Should lawmakers vote no on witnesses, they could quickly proceed to a final vote later Friday on whether to convict and remove Trump from office.Heis impeached on two charges in the Ukraine scandal: abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.Trump has adamantly denied wrongdoing while his allies have mounted shifting defense of his conduct, including that if he did pressure Ukraine to investigate his rivals, it was in the national interest of stopping corruption.Democrats have insisted on new witnesses at the Senate trial, though they would need some Republicans to vote with their minority. Conservatives have said they are wary of engaging in what they labeled a partisan revenge scheme against Trump.“You cannot be acquitted if you don’t have a trial,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told reporters in anews conferenceWednesday. “You don’t have a trial if you don’t have witnesses and documentation.”
PresidentDonald Trump‘s ongoing impeachment trial didn’t stop the Senate from taking note of the sudden death of NBA legendKobe Bryantand histeenage daughterthis week.
Prior to every session in the Senate, Chaplain Barry Black invokes a ceremonial prayer. On Thursday, Black included a prayer for Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, and the seven other passengerswho were killed in a Sunday helicopter crashoutside Los Angeles.
“As millions mourn the deaths of Kobe and Gianna Bryant, and those who died with them, we think about life’s brevity, uncertainty, and legacy,” Black prayed before Thursday’s session began. “Remind us that we all have a limited time on Earth to leave the world better than we found it.”
Black continued: “As this impeachment process unfolds, give our senators the desire to make the most of their time on earth. Teach them how to live, oh God, and lead them along the path of honesty.”
Drew Angerer/AP/Shutterstock; Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic
Bryant, the 41-year-old retired superstar regarded as one of the best basketball players to ever play the game, has been widely honored in the NBA and beyond.
Memorials andmuralshave popped up all across L.A., where Bryant played his entire 20-year career with the Lakers, while athletes from other sports have been paying tribute to him in many ways — from international soccer players holding up Bryant’s “24” with their fingers to celebrate goals to NBA teams purposely taking 24-second shot clock violations.
Both President Trump and former PresidentBarack Obamashared their sadness on Twitter, while L.A. officials considered local honors such as naming a street after Bryant.
“Kobe was a legend on the court and just getting started in what would have been just as meaningful a second act,” Obamatweetedthis week. “To lose Gianna is even more heartbreaking to us as parents. Michelle and I send love and prayers to Vanessa and the entire Bryant family on an unthinkable day.”
RELATED VIDEO: Celebrities Rally Around Vanessa Bryant After She Speaks Out About the Deaths of Kobe and Gianna
The Senate prayer for the victims of the helicopter crash was a mournful note in what has been a contentious impeachment trial, which continued this week with Trump’s defense team making its case and then questions from the senators for both sides.
The Senate will vote Friday to decide whether to allow additional witnesses in the case to testify. Should lawmakers vote no on witnesses, they could quickly proceed to a final vote later Friday on whether to convict and remove Trump from office.
Heis impeached on two charges in the Ukraine scandal: abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.
Trump has adamantly denied wrongdoing while his allies have mounted shifting defense of his conduct, including that if he did pressure Ukraine to investigate his rivals, it was in the national interest of stopping corruption.
Democrats have insisted on new witnesses at the Senate trial, though they would need some Republicans to vote with their minority. Conservatives have said they are wary of engaging in what they labeled a partisan revenge scheme against Trump.
“You cannot be acquitted if you don’t have a trial,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told reporters in anews conferenceWednesday. “You don’t have a trial if you don’t have witnesses and documentation.”
source: people.com
