Republicans

First, if after the two presentations 51 senators are in agreement that the trial should come to an end, teeing up final votes on the two articles of impeachment, then that's all it would take to make it happen. With Republicans in control of 53 seats in the Senate, even if Democrats took the position that they wanted to push forward with votes to hear from witnesses like Bolton and Mulvaney, it would take only Republican votes to snuff that idea out. … [Read more...] about Senate Republicans come around to idea of not having witnesses in impeachment trial

Senator Lisa Murkowski, of Alaska, called Trump’s comments “spiteful.” Senator Tim Scott, of South Carolina, who is African-American, said they were “racially offensive.” Senator Susan Collins described them as “way over the line.” These three senators did also call on Trump to knock it off. Murkowski said the Twitter attacks were “absolutely unacceptable and this needs to stop.” Scott said, “Aiming for the lowest common denominator will only divide our nation further.” Collins, who is facing a reëlection race in 2020, called on Trump to take down his offensive tweets. … [Read more...] about Trump’s Overt Racism Is Uniting Democrats and Unnerving Some Republicans

"You're saying that all those people who came before the committee are lying under oath," Cohen said, urging lawmakers "to go back and look at the entire spectrum from the Mueller report. There's a pattern here of (Trump) saying, 'I'm not beholden to anyone.' " … [Read more...] about Former Republican lawmakers tell current GOP: Consider full evidence on impeachment

[T]he prospect of a public airing of the White House’s corruption claims lasting into the primary season worries some Democrats, who see a parallel to Republican efforts to tarnish Hillary Clinton over her email practices in the run-up to the 2016 election. That campaign, they say, proved how damaging a constant stream of insinuations and accusations from Mr. Trump and his allies can be. … [Read more...] about How Republicans Can Use Impeachment to Mess With the Democratic Primary

Sens. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., and Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, reached an impasse last month in negotiating a Senate version of the Violence Against Women Act, deciding to go their separate ways. Saying the House bill had no chance of gaining bipartisan support in the GOP-controlled Senate, Ernst put forth her own version that eliminated the "boyfriend loophole" provision. Ernst pitched the bill as offering more funding for survivors and more resources for rape victims. Feinstein, meanwhile, went on to introduce the House's version that kept the gun safety provision. … [Read more...] about Houston police chief rips McConnell, Republican leaders for fearing NRA after sergeant is killed