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McConnell Says He Has Enough Votes to Open Impeachment Trial Without Witnesses

HeadlineJan 08, 2020

On Capitol Hill, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell says he has enough votes from Senate Republicans to begin President Trump’s impeachment trial without the support of Senate Democrats. McConnell is pushing to open the trial with only an initial agreement to hear arguments from the prosecution and defense — not a guarantee to hear witnesses. Democratic lawmakers are demanding McConnell and Senate Republicans agree to call witnesses in the Senate trial, because some high-level witnesses called by the House during its impeachment process refused to comply with the congressional subpoenas to testify, at the direction of the White House. Former national security adviser John Bolton now says he would comply with a subpoena to testify in the Senate trial, if he is called to do so. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is continuing to withhold the articles of impeachment in efforts to pressure Senate Republicans to call witnesses, although there is speculation McConnell could try to open the trial without the articles.

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