Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said he does not have the votes to stop witnesses from appearing in the Senate impeachment trial of President Trump.
The Kentucky Senator reportedly made the remarks in a private Republican meeting. Several senators also expressed willingness to move on from the Senate trial to a final vote.
NEWS — McConnell told his members that he did not yet have enough votes to be able to kill the witness vote, expected Friday, according to people familiar. Yet several 2020ers spoke, saying they’re ready to move on to final vote, move on from the trial.
— Seung Min Kim (@seungminkim) January 28, 2020
Democrats only needed to obtain four Republican votes in the Senate to pass a proposal that would allow for witnesses.
Democrats have pressured Republicans to hear witness testimony from former Trump national security adviser John Bolton. In response, Republicans have suggested they will call Hunter Biden, the son of former Vice President Joe Biden, as a witness in the Senate trial.
“I’ll make a prediction: There will be 51 Republican votes to call Hunter Biden, Joe Biden, the whistleblower, and the DNC staffer at a very minimum,” South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham told reporters.
The House of Representatives passed two articles impeachment against Trump nearly on party lines last year, with no Republicans voting in favor. The two charges include obstruction of Congress and abuse of power.
