Sen. Lindsey Graham said Republicans would hold a full impeachment trial because they do not have the votes to dismiss charges against President Trump immediately.
“Have you given up on the idea that the Senate Republican majority is going to vote to dismiss this case right away?” Fox News host Chris Wallace asked Graham on Fox News Sunday.
“That’s dead for practical purposes,” the South Carolina Republican responded. “The idea of dismissing the case early on is not going to happen. We don’t have the votes for that.”
The senator clarified that Republicans would eventually vote to acquit Trump, but that they would “need to hear the House’s case and the president’s case” first.
“We will play it out along the Clinton model,” he added.
House Democrats delivered the articles of impeachment to the Senate on Wednesday, and a trial in the chamber is slated to begin on Tuesday.
Sen. Josh Hawley has brought forward a resolution, supported by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, to allow Republicans to dismiss charges against Trump immediately. Sen. Ted Cruz said that the Senate trial might last up to eight weeks “or longer” if witnesses are brought forward.
