Republican Sen. Susan Collins announced she will vote in favor of calling additional witnesses in President Trump’s impeachment trial.
She is one of three Republicans who have expressed interest in calling witnesses.
“I believe hearing from certain witnesses would give each side the opportunity to more fully and fairly make their case, resolve any ambiguities, and provide additional clarity,” Collins, who is up for reelection in 2020, said in a statement late Thursday.
Sens. Mitt Romney of Utah and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska are also considering voting to call witnesses. It would take four Republicans to swing the vote in favor of new witnesses, a move that would extend the impeachment trial for weeks.
Murkowski said Thursday she hasn’t made up her mind yet.
Republican leaders are trying to avoid a tie vote. While a motion to call witnesses would fail in a tie, Chief Justice John Roberts could intercede to break the tie, although most senators believe that is unlikely.
