Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and a majority of Republicans voted Tuesday in favor of Republican Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul’s motion to dismiss the impeachment trial against former President Donald Trump.
As senators prepared for the impeachment trial, Paul introduced a motion arguing that the trial is unconstitutional since Trump is now a private citizen and exempt from facing removal from office.
However, five Republican senators and every Senate Democrat voted to table the motion, pushing Trump’s impeachment trial forward.
THESE FIVE GOP SENATORS VOTED TO TABLE THE MOTION:
- Maine Sen. Collins
- Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski
- Utah Sen. Mitt Romney
- Nebraska Sen. Ben Sasse
- Pennsylvania Sen. Pat Toomey
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) heads to the Senate floor before being called into session on January 26, 2021 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Samuel Corum/Getty Images)
“I think there will be enough support on it to show there’s no chance they can impeach the president,” Paul told reporters before the vote. “If 34 people support my resolution that this is an unconstitutional proceeding, it shows they don’t have the votes and we’re basically wasting our time.” (RELATED: Rand Paul Will Force Vote On The Constitutionality Of Trump’s Upcoming Senate Trial)
In order to convict Trump in the Senate, Democrats will need 17 Republican senators to side with every Democrat. (RELATED: Schumer Says Impeachment Trial Will Move Quickly, Won’t Need A Lot Of Witnesses)
Members were sworn in for trial on Tuesday. The arguments will start the week of Feb. 8, Schumer announced.