The Senate voted against calling witnesses and introducing more documents in President Trump’s sham impeachment trial.
The final vote was 51 to 49–with “Republican” Senators Mitt Romney (UT) and Susan Collins (ME) breaking with the GOP and voting with Democrats.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) released a statement saying, “There is no need for the Senate to re-open the investigation which the House Democratic majority chose to conclude and which the Managers themselves continue to describe as ‘overwhelming” and ‘beyond any doubt.’ Never in Senate history has this body paused an impeachment trial to pursue additional witnesses with unresolved questions of executive privilege that would require protracted litigation. We have no interest in establishing such a new precedent, particularly for individuals whom the House expressly chose not to pursue.”
CNBC reports:
Following the adjournment of the Senate on Friday, McConnell called a recess in the Senate, likely in order to continue ongoing negotiations between the White House, Senate Republicans and, to a lesser extent, Senate Democrats, over the next steps in the trial.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called the vote “a perfidy, it’s a grand tragedy, one of the worst tragedies that the Senate has ever overcome.”
Talk radio and Fox News host Mark Levin reacted to the vote, writing on Twitter, “Congratulations to the Senate Republicans, minus Romney and Collins. They defended the Constitution from the rogue, radical Democrats in the House.”
Congratulations to the Senate Republicans, minus Romney and Collins. They defended the Constitution from the rogue, radical Democrats in the House.
— Mark R. Levin (@marklevinshow) January 31, 2020
Twice-failed presidential candidate Hillary Clinton also reacted to the vote, claiming Republican senators voted to “make the American president accountable to no one.”
With their votes to make the American president accountable to no one, Republican senators have put the interests of one president over the interests of all Americans.
The only remedy now is for us all to vote in overwhelming numbers to replace them—and him—in November.
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) January 31, 2020
UPDATE: Fox News reports that the Senate “approved the framework to continue the trial on Monday then have a final up-and-down vote on Wednesday.”
