Forty-five Republican senators voted in favor of a motion introduced by Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) on Tuesday to dismiss the impeachment article against former President Donald Trump as unconstitutional.
Senate rejects Sen. Paul’s motion to declare fmr. Pres. Trump’s impeachment trial unconstitutional, in 55-45 vote. The 5 Republicans senators who voted with Democrats to proceed with the trial were Sens. Collins, Murkowski, Romney, Sasse, and Toomey, @GarrettHaake reports. pic.twitter.com/Lqpmo9VWjr
— MSNBC (@MSNBC) January 26, 2021
The point of order, which was defeated 55-45, argued that the Senate does not have the constitutional authority to try a president after he has left office.
The House on Monday delivered to the Senate one article of impeachment against Trump for allegedly “encourag[ing]…imminent lawless action at the Capitol” after a mob breached and vandalized the Capitol on Jan. 6 after his rally.
Among those who voted in favor of Paul’s motion was Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), who at first reportedly expressed support for Trump’s impeachment to colleagues.
Though the motion was not upheld, it suggests that the Senate will not have the requisite 67-vote supermajority to convict Trump in a second impeachment trial, in which 17 Republicans would have to vote with the Democrats.- READ MORE
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