Sen. Doug Jones, an Alabama Democrat who is facing a difficult reelection bid in November, announced he would vote to convict President Trump on two articles of impeachment.
“Having done my best to see through the fog of partisanship, I am deeply troubled by the arguments put forth by the President’s lawyers in favor of virtually unchecked presidential power,” Jones said in a statement Wednesday.
The Senate is on the verge of acquitting Trump of two articles of impeachment accusing him of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.
The 4 p.m. vote Wednesday is likely to fall along party lines, although one Republican and perhaps two Democrats could be swing votes.
Jones said he was convinced Trump abused his power by withholding aid from Ukraine while at the same time asking its government to investigate Democrats, including former Vice President Joe Biden.
“In this case, the evidence clearly proves the president used the weight of his office and that of the United States government to seek to coerce a foreign government to interfere in our election for his personal political benefit,” Jones said.
Jones is among the most endangered lawmakers up for reelection.
Alabama heavily favored Trump in 2016 and is considered a solidly Republican state.
In his statement, Jones said he was “deeply troubled by the partisan nature of these proceedings from start to finish,” and he called on Congress “to rise above the things that divide us and find the common good.”
[Opinion: Doug Jones isn’t interested in being a political chameleon]
