Should JoePa have been given a chance to defend himself? Or was the grand jury indictment a fair way to have maligned him? Under a grand jury presentation, the defendant can not defend him/herself. The House is conducting this entire affair in such a way as to shut down Trump's ability to formally defend himself by subpoenaing his own witnesses. They refuse to vote because they know as soon as they do, then Trump has as much right to bring forward witnesses as do the Democrats in Congress. They want a one sided fight.