The Senate rejects witnesses in President Trump's impeachment trial 51-49, clearing the way for a final vote
WASHINGTON – The Senate voted Friday to reject subpoenas for witnesses or documents in the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump, clearing the way for a vote on the verdict.
Democrats seek testimony from four officials, including former national security adviser John Bolton and acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney. But because a majority of the Senate sets trial policy, the 47 Democrats need at least four Republicans to join them in calling witnesses. But Philbin noted that disputes about witnesses are typically settled before trials, not in the midst of them. He argued that no witnesses were necessary because the accusation that Trump abused the power of his office by pressuring Ukraine to investigate his political rival was too vague to enforce.
“Here, to show up not having done the work, and to expect that work to be done in the Senate, by this body, has grave consequences for the institutional interests of this body,” Philbin said.Democratic House impeachment managers mainly argued for the necessity of witnesses during their closing arguments as more Republicans came out Friday morning with statements saying they will not vote to hear from witnesses.
A McConnell aide handed Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, a note. Collins, who last night in a statement said she wanted to witnesses, then passed the note to her desk-neighbor, Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, who said this morning she did not want witnesses. The two then whispered back-and-forth. Will he mention impeachment? Aides wouldn't say, adding that it depends in part on whether or not the trial is over by speech time on Tuesday night.The aides also discussed the speech on condition of anonymity because it is still being developed and could change depending on the news."Events always happen," one official said.
“There will be a simple resolution like that organizing resolution,” he explained, referring to the resolution setting up rules for the trial passed in the early hours of Jan. 22. “We have come here today even though it’s cold outside, but we’ve come here today because burden in our hearts is a desire for justice,” Arnwine told the crowd.
Following the silent march and press conference, the lawyers delivered signed letters to Senate offices. Schiff said if presidents are allowed to defy subpoenas and withhold witnesses and document during clashes with Congress, presidents will be able to avoid routine oversight and block impeachment. She's urging the Senate to subpoena the same documents, which Democrats think would receive more favorable treatment in federal court during an impeachment trial.
Trump’s lawyers have argued the Senate shouldn’t call more witnesses because the House should have made a complete case before sending it to the Senate. Legal fights over witnesses, such as whether Trump could assert executive privilege to block testimony from Bolton, could extend the trial by months, the lawyers argued.
Schiff argued that the revelation was another reason for the Senate to subpoena witnesses such as Bolton and acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney, who was also reportedly in the meeting. If the report in Bolton's manuscript is true, Cipollone should have been a fact witness at the impeachment trial and not a lawyer, said
"A lawyer who should testify but instead acts as a trial lawyer is in effect a stealth witness," Giller said."He can use what he knows as a witness to shape his trial advocacy, but he is not under oath or subject to cross-examination." Murkowski was the last of a handful of Republicans who had expressed a potential openness to witnesses.
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