The US Senate voted 55-45 last night to block a Republican effort to upend plans for former President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial on a charge that he incited the deadly January 6 assault on the US Capitol.
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“It’s one of the few times in Washington where a loss is actually a victory,” Paul later told reporters. “Forty-five votes means the impeachment trial is dead on arrival.”
Paul and other Republicans contend that the proceedings are unconstitutional because Trump left office last Wednesday and the trial will be overseen by Democratic Senator Patrick Leahy instead of by U.S. Chief Justice John Roberts.
Leahy, 80, was briefly hospitalized on Tuesday evening after not feeling well but was released after an examination, his spokesman, David Carle, said in a statement.
Some Republican senators who backed Paul’s motion said their vote on Tuesday did not indicate how they might come down on Trump’s guilt or innocence after a trial.
Forty-five Senate Republicans backed a failed effort to halt former president Donald Trump's impeachment trial, in a show of party unity that some say is as a clear sign he will not be convicted of inciting insurrection at the Capitol.
WASHINGTON, Jan 26 (Reuters) - Forty-five Senate Republicans backed a failed effort on Tuesday to halt former President Donald Trump's impeachment trial, in a show of party unity that some cited as a clear sign he will not be convicted of inciting insurrection at the Capitol.
Republicans largely vote against holding Trump impeachment trial
By: DW
As many as 45 Senate Republicans backed a failed effort on Tuesday to halt Donald Trump s impeachment trial, in a sign of party unity and the former president s continued sway over the GOP.
It also makes clear a conviction of Trump for incitement of insurrection after the deadly Capitol siege on January 6 is unlikely.
Republican Senator Rand Paul made a motion on the Senate floor that would have required the chamber to vote on whether Trump s trial in February violates the US Constitution.
The Democratic-led Senate blocked the motion in a 55-45 vote.