Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) announced Thursday evening that she will support a motion to allow additional witnesses to be heard in the Senate’s impeachment trial of President Donald Trump.
“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. Therefore, I will vote in support of the motion to allow witnesses and documents to be subpoenaed,” Collins, who faces a tough re-election battle, said in a statement.
‘The View’ Floats Dangerous Conspiracy Theory About Trump Days After Assassination Attempt, Draws Response from White House
Why The Supreme Court’s Landmark Elections Decision Is a ‘Game Changer’ for the Midterms and Beyond
Trump EPA chief vows he won’t take ‘morality lessons’ from Dem senator after heated clash
Newsom mocks Trump’s limited-edition passport with fake California driver’s license featuring gov’s portrait
UnitedHealthcare Fires Employee Who Said She Was Sad Trump Assassin Failed: ‘Violence is Never Acceptable’
United Airlines Flight Reportedly Struck by a Drone at 3,000 Feet
Members of heretical Muslim cult arrested in UK accused of sex offenses, forced marriage, and slavery
Prosecutors drop reference to injured Secret Service agent in latest filing amid confusion over Trump assassination case
FBI reveals Brown University mass shooter began plotting massacre as early as 2022, blamed victims
Kohberger defense team says it is ‘appalled’ by former expert’s public comments about Idaho murders case
Rashida Tlaib slams anti-israel Arab group over handling of sexual harassment claims
‘Shark Tank’ star backs Trump’s White House ballroom plan amid security concerns: ‘It’s bipartisan’
Grand Jury Indicts 2 Suspects for Assault on Turning Point USA Journalist
DOJ Releases Mirror Selfie of WHCA Dinner Shooter Donning Red Tie, Weapons Arsenal Just Before Attack
Dems’ ‘No Kings’ rhetoric backfires as critics lambaste ‘confusing’ reaction to actual king
I will vote in support of the motion to allow witnesses and documents to be subpoenaed. My full statement: https://t.co/VuhZv6CO5e pic.twitter.com/LhQlnvPaoc
— Sen. Susan Collins (@SenatorCollins) January 31, 2020
“If this motion passes, I believe that the most sensible way to proceed would be for the House Managers and the President’s attorneys to attempt to agree on a limited and equal number of witnesses for each side. If they can’t agree, then the Senate could choose the number of witnesses,” the senator added.
Collins’ announcement came moments before the lengthy statement of fellow moderate Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN), who announced that he will join the overwhelming majority of his colleagues to vote against calling additional witnesses.
“I worked with other senators to make sure that we have the right to ask for more documents and witnesses, but there is no need for more evidence to prove something that has already been proven and that does not meet the United States Constitution’s high bar for an impeachable offense,” the retiring Tennessee Republican said.
‘The View’ Floats Dangerous Conspiracy Theory About Trump Days After Assassination Attempt, Draws Response from White House
Why The Supreme Court’s Landmark Elections Decision Is a ‘Game Changer’ for the Midterms and Beyond
Trump EPA chief vows he won’t take ‘morality lessons’ from Dem senator after heated clash
Newsom mocks Trump’s limited-edition passport with fake California driver’s license featuring gov’s portrait
UnitedHealthcare Fires Employee Who Said She Was Sad Trump Assassin Failed: ‘Violence is Never Acceptable’
United Airlines Flight Reportedly Struck by a Drone at 3,000 Feet
Members of heretical Muslim cult arrested in UK accused of sex offenses, forced marriage, and slavery
Prosecutors drop reference to injured Secret Service agent in latest filing amid confusion over Trump assassination case
FBI reveals Brown University mass shooter began plotting massacre as early as 2022, blamed victims
Kohberger defense team says it is ‘appalled’ by former expert’s public comments about Idaho murders case
Rashida Tlaib slams anti-israel Arab group over handling of sexual harassment claims
‘Shark Tank’ star backs Trump’s White House ballroom plan amid security concerns: ‘It’s bipartisan’
Grand Jury Indicts 2 Suspects for Assault on Turning Point USA Journalist
DOJ Releases Mirror Selfie of WHCA Dinner Shooter Donning Red Tie, Weapons Arsenal Just Before Attack
Dems’ ‘No Kings’ rhetoric backfires as critics lambaste ‘confusing’ reaction to actual king
“There is no need for more evidence to conclude that the president withheld United States aid, at least in part, to pressure Ukraine to investigate the Bidens; the House managers have proved this with what they call a ‘mountain of overwhelming evidence,’ he added. “There is no need to consider further the frivolous second article of impeachment that would remove the president for asserting his constitutional prerogative to protect confidential conversations with his close advisers.”
Alexander’s decision indicates that the Senate will likely fail to meet the 51-vote threshold needed to subpoena more witnesses on Friday’s blanket up-or-down vote, signaling that the trial could draw to a close in the coming days.
Speaking to reporters earlier Thursday, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) said that he is “increasingly optimistic” that Republicans “will move to a final verdict” before Tuesday and the president’s acquittal will be “in a bipartisan manner.”
“I’m increasingly optimistic that Republicans will move to a final verdict before Tuesday. The president will be acquitted in a bipartisan manner,” Graham, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said. We’re not blocking anybody’s witnesses. We’re just not going to legitimize the House choosing not to call a witness, dump it in our lap, and put us in a spot where if you call the witness, you’d be bailing the courts out of judicial review of impeachment.”
Story cited here.
