Republicans in the Senate garnered enough votes earlier this evening to reject efforts by Democrats to call new witnesses. The final vote set for Wednesday afternoon on two articles of impeachment against the president.
After many hours of debate during the day on Friday, the Senate voted 51 to 49 to block a Democratic motion to call new witnesses. The vote came after heated demands from Dems to call former national security adviser John Bolton to testify about Trump and Ukraine.
Two Republicans — Utah Sen. Mitt Romney and Maine Sen. Susan Collins — voted with Democrats for new witnesses.
Closing arguments in the case will begin Monday at 11 a.m. and will last four hours. Senators will then have until Wednesday’s vote to offer speeches on the trial.
'CAN'T MAKE THIS UP': Chuck Schumer’s Guest Booted from Impeachment Trial Over GPS Ankle Bracelet, Felony Charges
Chuck Schumer’s personal guest to attend the Senate’s ongoing Impeachment trial was removed Wednesday stemming from issues related to his electronic ankle bracelet and multiple felony charges.
“Scenes from the impeachment trial: Schumer invited Lev Parnas to be his personal guest today at the trial. Minutes ago, Parnas was ejected from the gallery…because he’s wearing an ankle bracelet mandated bc he’s a criminal defendant accused of serious felonies!” posted Sen. Ted Cruz on Twitter.
https://twitter.com/tedcruz/status/1222583748450975746?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1222583748450975746&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitchy.com%2Fdougp-3137%2F2020%2F01%2F29%2Fyou-cant-make-this-up-ted-cruz-lindsey-graham-explain-why-chuck-schumers-guest-at-impeachment-trial-was-ejected-from-the-gallery%2F
The best way to sum up this whole debacle is to understand that Senator Schumer’s desire for Lev Parnas to attend the Senate trial apparently cannot be accommodated because Mr. Parnas has an electronic ankle bracelet imposed upon him by the court. You can’t make this up.
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) January 29, 2020
“The best way to sum up this whole debacle is to understand that Senator Schumer’s desire for Lev Parnas to attend the Senate trial apparently cannot be accommodated because Mr. Parnas has an electronic ankle bracelet imposed upon him by the court. You can’t make this up,” added Sen. Lindsey Graham.
SO SAD, SO SOMBER: Schumer SCOLDS Kamala Harris for Laughing During Impeachment Briefing
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer publicly scolded Sen. Kamala Harris during a press briefing Friday; snapping at the lawmaker after she appeared to be laughing during a supposedly “sad and somber” moment in American history.
Sen. Chuck Schumer doubled-down on his demand for more witnesses in the never-ending impeachment charade Friday morning; saying Senate Republicans are trying to commit the “greatest cover-up since Watergate.”
“If my Republican colleagues refuse to even consider witnesses and documents in this trial, this country is headed toward the greatest cover-up since Watergate,” said Schumer from the US Capitol.
Chuck Schumer:
"If my Republican colleagues refused to even consider witnesses and documents in this trial, this country is headed toward the greatest cover-up since Watergate." pic.twitter.com/npr9DunKik
— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) January 31, 2020
“If my Republican colleagues refuse to even consider witnesses and documents in the trial, what would the President conclude?” Schumer pondered.
Watch the Senator’s comments above.