WKSU Stories

In Akron, Sen. Sherrod Brown Talks Trump Impeachment Trial and His New Book

Ideastream Public Media | By Kabir Bhatia

Published February 3, 2020 at 12:00 AM EST

Sen. Sherrod Brown signed copies of his new book, 'Desk 88: Eight Progessive Senators Who Changed America,' for nearly two hours after this appearance at the Akron-Summit County Public Library on Sunday.

Sharon Pelkey (right) and Brandon Meeker were the last two people in line to meet Sen. Sherrod Brown, but were unable to get copies of his book, which sold out quickly.

Ohio’s Democratic Senator, Sherrod Brown, is not up for re-election this year. But during his appearance in Akron on Sunday, the conversation kept coming back to this fall’s election.

Brown was at the Akron-Summit County Public Library to promote his book, “Desk 88: Eight Progressive Senators Who Changed America.” In discussing the sometimes unpopular positions that his predecessors had to take, he said lawmakers are most effective when they are not worrying about re-election. That prompted a big response from audience members like Charlie Nelson from Akron, who saw a parallel to last week’s impeachment hearings.

“I think we'd have had a much different outcome if the Senate was able to vote by secret ballot on calling of witnesses and for impeachment. I think it would have put some Senators in a position where they could vote their conscience.”

Sen. Brown also briefly expressed disappointment with how the media has been treated during the impeachment hearings.