Trumps Impeachment Likely To Be Over Today,

Republican Sen. Lamar Alexander of Tennessee said Thursday night that he will oppose Democratic demands for additional witnesses in the Senate impeachment trial of President Donald Trump.

Republicans have a 53-47 majority in the Senate. That means no more than three Republicans can break away from the GOP position that witnesses should not be called for a vote on witnesses to fail. That motion is expected to be offered Friday.

If the Senate votes 50-50 on the motion, Chief Justice John Roberts, who is presiding over the trial, could use his power to break the tie, but that is considered unlikely.

Failure of that vote is widely seen to be a precursor to a vote to reject the articles of impeachment passed by the House and acquit the president.

In a statement issued by Alexander and posted on Twitter, the senator made no bones about his view that a July 25 call between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was inappropriate.

Alexander was dismissive about the second article of impeachment against Trump, dealing with obstruction of Congress.

“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,” he said in his statement.

The senator explained his stance on the first article, dealing with abuse of power.

“It was inappropriate for the president to ask a foreign leader to investigate his political opponent and to withhold United States aid to encourage that investigation,” Alexander said in his statement. “When elected officials inappropriately interfere with such investigations, it undermines the principle of equal justice under the law.

“But the Constitution does not give the Senate the power to remove the president from office and ban him from this year’s ballot simply for actions that are inappropriate.

“The question then is not whether the president did it, but whether the United States Senate or the American people should decide what to do about what he did. I believe that the Constitution provides that the people should make that decision in the presidential election that begins in Iowa on Monday.

Key House committee advances nationwide voter ID bill, setting up 2026 election fight

What the timing of the FBI’s image release suggests in the Nancy Guthrie case: crime insider

Dem senator fumes that GOP’s foreign funding claim ‘delegitimizes’ anger of anti-ICE agitators in US

Susan Collins shrugs off attacks by Democrats and Trump, says Maine voters ‘Don’t vote party line’

DOJ Unredacts Alleged Epstein Co-Conspirators After Pressure from Thomas Massie and Ro Khanna

Leavitt brushes off Lutnick–Epstein heat with list of administration wins media ignored before ending briefing

Media Reporting Trump’s Tariffs Cost Americans $1,000, But They’re Ignoring Overall Savings of His Policies

Senate GOP investigating Pritzker administration over Illinois health records breach

Major charity raises legal questions by funding pro-Harris dark money operation

Fulton County FBI raid prompted by Trump 2020 election lawyer’s criminal referral

AI power players pour cash into competitive primaries as 2026 midterms heat up

Shutdown clock ticks as Schumer, Democrats dig in on DHS funding demands

Multiple dead after shooting inside gated Florida community: sheriff’s office

Watch: Acting ICE Director Thwarts Eric Swalwell’s ‘Gotcha Question’ During Hearing

Watch: Bench-Clearing Brawl Throws NBA Game Into Chaos, Leads to 4 Ejections

The framers believed that there should never, ever be a partisan impeachment. That is why the Constitution requires a 2/3 vote of the Senate for conviction. Yet not one House Republican voted for these articles. 12/15

— Sen. Lamar Alexander (@SenAlexander) January 31, 2020

It would create the weapon of perpetual impeachment to be used against future presidents whenever the House of Representatives is of a different political party. 14/15

— Sen. Lamar Alexander (@SenAlexander) January 31, 2020

Our founding documents provide for duly elected presidents who serve with “the consent of the governed,” not at the pleasure of the United States Congress.

Let the people decide.

15/15

— Sen. Lamar Alexander (@SenAlexander) January 31, 2020

On Thursday, Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine said she will vote to call new 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. Therefore, I will vote in support of the motion to allow witnesses and documents to be subpoenaed,” she said in a statement.

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

Republican Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah has said he wants to hear from former National Security Adviser John Bolton.

According to media accounts, a book Bolton will release in March claims Trump linked military aid to Ukraine with the country’s willingness to investigate a corruption investigation from 2016 that targeted Hunter Biden.