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.
Trump orders DOJ probe into Democrats over alleged threats against admin officials
Biden-appointed judge probes whether ICE skirted judge’s release orders in Colorado cases
Salon Signs Off: The Truth Outlasts the Smear
Newsom’s death-row commutations spark DA revolt as prosecutors warn of legal fight
Turning Point USA event at University of New Mexico ends with two arrests and a string of charges
The Left’s Joe Rogan Can’t Stop Laughing at Twisted Charlie Kirk Execution Fantasy
Slew of Arrests For Newly Elected Democrats Across the Country, Some Could Face Years in Jail
White House Slammed for Tone-Deaf Post About ‘Triumphal Arch’ Following Midterm Bloodbath
9 mystery fingerprints from OJ Simpson murder case could hold new clues more than 30 years later
Republican state lawmakers reported Omar to the IRS in 2019
Far Worse Than Previously Reported: Big Tech’s Ticking Time Bomb Is a Massive Financial Exposure Tied to AI
Second Amendment Declared ‘Extinct’ in SCOTUS Brief Over Gun Ban
Democratic senator-elect calls Trump ‘unserious fool’ while defending combative political style
How potential Republican 2028 candidates are reacting to the midterm elections
GOP eyes Senate comeback after Democratic bloodbath, but another political nightmare could await
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.
Trump orders DOJ probe into Democrats over alleged threats against admin officials
Biden-appointed judge probes whether ICE skirted judge’s release orders in Colorado cases
Salon Signs Off: The Truth Outlasts the Smear
Newsom’s death-row commutations spark DA revolt as prosecutors warn of legal fight
Turning Point USA event at University of New Mexico ends with two arrests and a string of charges
The Left’s Joe Rogan Can’t Stop Laughing at Twisted Charlie Kirk Execution Fantasy
Slew of Arrests For Newly Elected Democrats Across the Country, Some Could Face Years in Jail
White House Slammed for Tone-Deaf Post About ‘Triumphal Arch’ Following Midterm Bloodbath
9 mystery fingerprints from OJ Simpson murder case could hold new clues more than 30 years later
Republican state lawmakers reported Omar to the IRS in 2019
Far Worse Than Previously Reported: Big Tech’s Ticking Time Bomb Is a Massive Financial Exposure Tied to AI
Second Amendment Declared ‘Extinct’ in SCOTUS Brief Over Gun Ban
Democratic senator-elect calls Trump ‘unserious fool’ while defending combative political style
How potential Republican 2028 candidates are reacting to the midterm elections
GOP eyes Senate comeback after Democratic bloodbath, but another political nightmare could await
“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.
