Donald Trump’s second impeachment trial continues as vote expected
The Senate has voted to allow witnesses in Donald Trump’s impeachment trial in a “game changing” move ahead of what was previously expected to be a rapid acquittal of the former president.
The motion passed 55-45 on Saturday morning, with a handful of Republican lawmakers including Lindsey Graham siding with Democrats against the wishes of Mr Trump’s defence team.
The unexpected development means a final vote on the charge of incitement of insurrection against Mr Trump is unlikely to occur today.
Informal negotiations are currently underway between senators as to what format the remainder of the trial will take. The Trump defence team was seemingly caught off guard by the move by Democrat House managers who requested Republican congresswoman Jamie Herrera Beutler be called as a witness.
House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy told Ms Beutler of a conversation he had with Mr Trump during the assault on the US Capitol in which the president reportedly refused to call off rioters loyal to him.
Nevertheless, in an email to colleagues, Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell said he would vote to acquit Mr Trump, despite saying his decision was a “close call” and appearing to suggest Mr Trump could face criminal prosecution.
Senators also laughed at defence team’s video
Senators laughed out loud at a video played in defense of Donald Trump during his second impeachment trial, according to reports.
The former president’s lawyers played the selectively-edited clips on Friday in the Senate, in an attempt to equate the language that Mr Trump used in his speech on 6 January before the Capitol riot to that of Democrats.
Oliver O’Connell13 February 2021 17:08
Trump team claim 301 witnesses ‘so far’ on wish list
Trump’s team says that they have a list of more than 300 witnesses signalling that they are willing to drag this out if needed.
Jason Miller, adviser to Donald Trump, is walking around the Capitol with a witness list of 301 people “so far”.
In a photo posted on Twitter, the list appears to include: Nancy Pelosi, Kamala Harris, Chuck Schumer, Ted Lieu, Joaquin Castro, Mazie Hirono, Elizabeth Warren, Ayanna Pressley, and Maxine Waters.
Oliver O’Connell13 February 2021 16:49
‘This is a bogus hail mary’
Republican senator for Kansas Roger Marshall says that the move by the House Managers to call witnesses is a ‘bogus hail mary’ pass, stating that if Democrats want witnesses they should call Nancy Pelosi herself.
“It’s time to end this sham”.
Oliver O’Connell13 February 2021 16:41
Trial moves into new territory
While we began today with a fairly good idea of how things would unfold in the Senate, things have been thrown into disarray by the call for witnesses.
The Senate now needs to pass a resolution laying out a format for the remainder of the trial. Currently, senators are negotiating what that format might be.
On the floor of the chamber, there are multiple groups of senators from both parties in deep conversation, and a group of key Republican senators is said to be in discussion in the whip’s office.
While Mr Trump’s defence lawyer Michael Van der Veen said he would like to call hundreds of witnesses, that is up to the Senate when they agree on the format.
It seems that everyone expected the trial to wrap up today, and now they are having to work without a script.
Oliver O’Connell13 February 2021 16:38
GOP senators sniping at each other on floor of chamber
Republican senators are sniping at each other on the floor of the Senate according to Fox News Capitol Hill reporter Jason Donner.
Voices were raised, with Senator Ron Johnson reportedly telling Senator Mitt Romney that he blamed him for the trial not being over today.
Senator Dan Sullivan sits between the two on the floor of the chamber.
Oliver O’Connell13 February 2021 16:24
Trump lawyer Michael Van der Veen demands in-person depositions at his office
Ahead of the vote on witnesses, Trump defence lawyer Michael Van der Veen said that he would need to depose as many as one hundred witnesses — including Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Vice President Kamala Harris — saying that it would have to be in person at his office in Philadelphia, not via Zoom.
There was audible laughter from senators, which Mr Van der Veen did not appreciate.
Earlier Mr Van der Veen appeared to get angry to the point he needed to take his own advice and cool down for a moment.
Oliver O’Connell13 February 2021 16:13
Democrats demand testimony over Capitol riot
Griffin Connolly reports for The Independent from Washington, DC.
Democrats demand testimony over shock Capitol riot call between Trump and McCarthy
The Senate will hear from witnesses in the impeachment trial of Donald Trump after House Democratic impeachment managers are requested testimony on Saturday from Congresswoman Jaime Herrera-Beutler of Washington regarding her knowledge of a phone conversation between House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and Donald Trump on the day of the 6 January insurrection at the Capitol.
Oliver O’Connell13 February 2021 16:04
Moment Lindsey Graham changes vote to ‘Aye’
Five Republicans voted in favour of having witnesses appear before the Senate. Initially, they were senators Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, Mitt Romney, and Ben Sasse. Trump loyalist Lindsey Graham then changed his vote to ‘Aye ‘ bringing the number of yes votes to 55.
Mr Graham provided some context to his decision about an hour before the vote.
Oliver O’Connell13 February 2021 15:58
Senate votes to allow witnesses 55-45
The Senate has now finished voting on whether to allow witnesses, with 55 voting for it compared to 45 against.
Former federal prosecutor Renato Mariotti called the move a “game changer”, coming as it does after new evidence emerged that Donald Trump sided with the insurrectionists during a phone call with senior Republican Kevin McCarthy.
It means a final vote on Mr Trump’s guilt or innocence is now very unlikely to happen today.
Tom Embury-Dennis13 February 2021 15:38
Senate votes to call witnesses to Trump impeachment
A vote as to whether to call witnesses in Donald Trump’s impeachment trial appears to have passed, after Susan Collins voted yes. It only requires one Republican to defect if all Democrats opt for witnesses, which appears to be the case.
Tom Embury-Dennis13 February 2021 15:25
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