Growing Number of Republican Senators Oppose Holding Trump Impeachment Trial

[NightHawkeye]

From the "You know there's a problem when even Chief Justice John Roberts wants no part in it", files: Growing Number of Republican Senators Oppose Holding Trump Impeachment Trial

Twenty-nine GOP senators have now spoken out against holding a trial, according to an Epoch Times tally, arguing it’s unconstitutional to try to convict a former office holder, or a waste of time.
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Democrats must convince at least 17 senators to vote with them to convict the former president.
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Republican senators who are open to voting to convict or haven’t ruled it out:

Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.)
Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.)
Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.)
Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine)
Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska)
Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah)
Sen. Ben Sasse (R-Neb.)
Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio)
Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska)
Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.)
Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.)
Sen. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho)
Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.)
Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.)
Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.)

Republican senators whose stances are unclear:

Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.)
Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho)
Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah)
Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.)
Sen. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.)
Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.)​

As I look through the list I see five names who won't in a million years vote for conviction; John Kennedy, Mike Lee, Richard Shelby, Jim Inhofe, James Lankford. That reduces the maximum number of Republicans who might vote to convict to fifteen. If there is no chance of conviction, herd mentality will overtake most of the rest.

 

[GoldenBoy89]

I don’t see how it can be argued to be unconstitutional. That would mean a president is essentially untouchable in his last month in office as there would simply never be enough time to go to trial on a last minute impeachment taking place in their final weeks. The Constitution does not set any specific deadline for impeachment trials.

I say let the Senators vote their conscience and then we’ll let their constituents vote theirs when it’s time for re-election.

 

[jacks]

Not a huge Trump fan, but impeaching someone who is no longer president, just seems vindictive. It will serve no purpose and just do more to divide the nation.

 

[super animator]

Not a huge Trump fan, but impeaching someone who is no longer president, just seems vindictive. It will serve no purpose and just do more to divide the nation.

The impeachment has been already done, the senate trial determines on whatever or not to bar trump from federal office. Which all you need is a simple majority.

It requires 2/3 for conviction of a sitting president.

 

[Albion]

Not a huge Trump fan, but impeaching someone who is no longer president, just seems vindictive. It will serve no purpose and just do more to divide the nation.

You're right. Of course. Impeaching someone, and then convicting him, when he is not even in office (if it is even constitutional to do so), serves no important purpose other than vengeance.

Any Republican Senator who votes "yes," therefore, might as well be voting to end the Republican Party, for that is what it would accomplish, without any question. And the impact upon the nation as a whole would certainly be negative.

 

[stevil]

Twenty-nine GOP senators have now spoken out against holding a trial​

It would be against the law for them not to hold a trial. When the articles of Impeachment are sent to the Senate, the Senate MUST at least hold a trial.

Unfortunately they can hold a sham trial with no witnesses and no documents if they are able to vote for that.
But now, with Dems controlling the Senate, they will have to sit through a real trial whether they like it or not.
​

 

[Albion]

Unfortunately they can hold a sham trial with no witnesses and no documents if they are able to vote for that.​

Since it was a sham impeachment, wouldn't that be the best course of action? Then everyone would have a chance to put this silliness behind us and get down to work on the nation's many problems.​

 

[stevil]

FIf there is no chance of conviction, herd mentality will overtake most of the rest.

I think it will be good for the public to see and hear the evidence and to have that documented for historical purposes, even if the Republicans hold the political line.

In fact, the Republican party has the most to gain from barring Trump from ever holding office. The Democratic party have nothing to gain other than setting a precedence for any future would be insurrectionist (be it a Republican or a Democrat president)

 

[Sparagmos]

arguing it’s unconstitutional to try to convict a former office holder, or a waste of time.

Cool - does that mean we can try him as a regular citizen, call him and his associates in for hours of questioning and subpoena relevant documents and internal communication? I’d be cool with that.

 

[Albion]

In fact, the Republican party has the most to gain from barring Trump from ever holding office. The Democratic party have nothing to gain other than setting a precedence for any future would be insurrectionist (be it a Republican or a Democrat president)

Not so. The Democratic strategists are terrified of him running in 2024. While the face that is shown to the public is confident, gloating in victory, etc., the dominant mood in the party is the opposite.

There is no other explanation for any political party, coming on the heels of a big triumph, to spend all its time and energy figuring out some way to head off a comeback of the candidate they just defeated! And that's especially so when it's not even certain that President Trump would choose to run in 2024 after all.

 

[Larniavc]

The Democratic strategists are terrified of him running in 2024.

You honestly think politicians think four years ahead?

 

[GoldenBoy89]

Not so. The Democratic strategists are terrified of him running in 2024. While the face that is shown to the public is confident, gloating in victory, etc., the dominant mood in the party is the opposite.

There is no other explanation for any political party, coming on the heels of a big triumph, to spend all its time and energy figuring out some way to head off a comeback of the candidate they just defeated! And that's especially so when it's not even certain that President Trump would choose to run in 2024 after all.

I find it amazing how much clear support there still is for the one man who cost the Republicans the House two years ago, the Presidency two months ago and the Senate two weeks ago. Sleepy Joe couldn’t have done it without him on his own so please, don’t ever give up on Trump. I’m begging you.

 

[Albion]

Trump is damaged goods, he will never garner enough support to hold office, at best all he can do is hold the Republican party hostage or if he starts a new party, he will pillage a significant portion of their voters. Either way the Republican party are worse off if Trump remains a political power.

If the opposition agreed with you about that, the last thing they would be doing now would be making him ineligible to seek the presidency years down the road! It would be nothing to worry about, just as you explained.

The fact that their Number One objective is to keep on defeating President Trump, and then to do it again and again, speaks volumes.

Most politicians and their parties want to ignore the losing candidate and make the public forget him as soon as possible. Not these guys. And there is only one possible reason for that.

 

[timothyu]

It is funny to watch career politicians scrambling to adapt to current trends in order to keep their jobs, but the real question is how much more unwillingness to comply with her wishes will happen before pelosi is carted off in a straight jacket?

 

[chevyontheriver]

Not a huge Trump fan, but impeaching someone who is no longer president, just seems vindictive. It will serve no purpose and just do more to divide the nation.

Isn't Joe Biden all about unity and healing?

 

[timothyu]

Isn't Joe Biden all about unity and healing?

It's the old team player sham. It works only if everyone agrees to work on one team and follow the owners wishes, not their own.

 

[stevil]

If the opposition agreed with you about that, the last thing they would be doing now would be making him ineligible to seek the presidency years down the road! It would be nothing to worry about, just as you explained.

By "the opposition" I assume you are talking about the party that currently holds office.
The Democratic party (by my observations) aren't as politically astute or focused as the Republican party.
For the Republicans, all that matters is self interest, but the Democratic party, who currently hold office, they really have no self interest in impeaching and removing Donald Trump. (funny that they were nonsensically accused of a coup in the previous impeachment). They are going through this process, not in order to gain control of govt. They already have control. They are going through it as it is their constitutional duty, and Trump remains a threat to the peace of USA.

The fact that their Number One objective is to keep on defeating President Trump, and then to do it again and again, speaks volumes.

It is the duty of the House and the Senate to uphold the constitution and to hold the president to account for perceived high crimes and misdemeanours.
The Republicans impeached a Democrat president for lying about consensually kissing a woman.
But now the Republicans complain about impeaching a Republican president for inciting a violent and deadly insurrection.

Most politicians and their parties want to ignore the losing candidate and make the public forget him as soon as possible. Not these guys. And there is only one possible reason for that.

Law and Order

 

[Hans Blaster]

Isn't Joe Biden all about unity and healing?

Joe Biden isn't in charge of the Senate.

 

[stevil]

Not a huge Trump fan, but impeaching someone who is no longer president, just seems vindictive. It will serve no purpose and just do more to divide the nation.

It serves several purposes
1. That the constitution matters at all times. An outgoing president doesn't get a free ticket at the end of his presidency
2. It sets a precedence for future would be dictators.
3. It removes Trump from the political sphere so that he cannot encourage future civil unrest.

None of that has anything to do with vindictiveness and has everything to do with supporting a civil and unified country.
All future presidents (regardless of party) will see that avoiding a peaceful transfer of power may have major consequences.

 

[Sophrosyne]

The problem with impeaching Trump is many senators view this as a precursor to things to come. If they are going to impeach Trump twice even when he is out of office to many it speaks to the idea that they are next in line if they upset the Democrat leadership and it will discourage those who are spineless from staying in office and end up with more Republicans in office that essentially say when threatened with impeachment "Bring it ON!".
In other words this impeachment stuff could be seen as bullying and backfire on the bullies.