Republicans defeat Democratic bid to hear witnesses in Trump trial The vote represented a major victory for McConnell and Trump.
The Senate on Friday night narrowly rejected a motion to call new witnesses in Donald Trump’s impeachment trial, paving the way for a final vote to acquit the president by next week.
In a 51-49 vote, the Senate defeated a push by Democrats to depose former national security adviser John Bolton and other witnesses on their knowledge of the Ukraine scandal that led to Trump’s impeachment.
Two Republicans — Susan Collins of Maine and Mitt Romney of Utah — joined all 47 Senate Democrats in voting for the motion. Two potential GOP swing votes, Sen. Lamar Alexander of Tennessee and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, stuck with their party, ensuring Democrats were defeated.
The vote represented a major victory for Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Trump, both of whom have been calling for Republicans to reject the motion and move toward ending the trial.
Murkowski released a statement earlier on Friday saying she would not support hearing new witness testimony, while Alexander announced late Thursday night that he wouldn’t support the Democratic-led effort for witnesses.
The decision by Murkowski also absolved Chief Justice John Roberts from having to decide whether to break a tie, a controversial action that would have brought loud complaints from the losing side.
“The House chose to send articles of impeachment that are rushed and flawed. I carefully considered the need for additional witnesses and documents, to cure the shortcomings of its process, but ultimately decided that I will vote against considering motions to subpoena,” the Alaska Republican said in a statement.
Sen. Rob Portman, who also had not publicly disclosed his intentions, indicated he will vote against witnesses as well.
“I do not believe that additional witnesses are needed,” Portman said in a statement. The Ohio Republican said some of Trump’s actions during the Ukraine scandal “were wrong and inappropriate,” but added “I do not believe that the president’s actions rise to the level of removing a duly-elected president from office and taking him off the ballot in the middle of an election.”
Even after the outcome became apparent, House Democrats prosecuting the impeachment case made a last plea on the Senate floor for witnesses and documents. Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), the lead impeachment manager, said refusing their request would “rob this country of a fair trial” and set a precedent that will be cited by future judges and presidents. He also warned senators that new evidence will come out.
“No matter what you decide to do here, whether you decide to hear witnesses and relevant testimony, the facts will come out in the end,” he said. “Even over the course of this trial we have seen so many additional facts come to light. The facts will come out. There are more court documents and deadlines under FOIA. Witnesses will tell their stories in future congressional hearings.”
Trump attorney Jay Sekulow rejected the notion that new witnesses were necessary and said if the Senate opened the door, Trump’s team would seek to cross-examine all of the 17 witnesses House Democrats called in their impeachment investigation — from former National Security Council official Fiona Hill to former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch.
While the outcome of the Trump impeachment trial has never been in doubt in the GOP-controlled the Senate, how the proceedings end remains unclear.
McConnell had been expected to push for a quick acquittal following Friday’s witness vote. But White House officials have asked for a delay, pushing the conclusion likely until the middle of next week.
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