The US Senate began hearing final arguments on Saturday in the impeachment trial of Donald Trump as the top Republican senator said he would vote to acquit the former president of inciting the deadly January 6 assault on the Capitol.
Donald Trump s team was in a total panic when Democrats and five GOP senators including Lindsey Graham voted to call other witnesses - before Democrats struck deal not to in exchange for accepting bombshell call as evidence
Insiders close to the former president were said to be floored stunned, stupefied [and in a] total panic as the Senate voted to call witnesses
Sources told ABC News Trump and his legal team had not prepared for the trial running on past Saturday
ABC News Chief Washington Correspondent Jonathan Karl said Trump had been planning to make a public appearance to declare victory
Senators voted after the conclusion of the trial Saturday, with 57 to convict and 43 to acquit
House manager Rep. Jamie Raskin asked to be able to depose Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler about she says Rep. Kevin McCarthy told her the day of the riot
The Senate than voted to grant the request to call witnesses
Five Republicans joined Democrats in advancing it
It set in motion furious negotiations, with both sides agreeing to admit a statement by Herrera Beutler
Mitch McConnell told fellow Republicans of his advance plans to vote to acquit
He then delivered a blistering speech against Trump after the verdict, saying: The mob was assaulting the Capitol in his name