There was a „major discussion“ among GOP senators at lunch on the trial endgame, Republican sources said. Republicans remained divided over how to wind down the trial, with several expressing dissatisfaction about dragging out the proceedings over the weekend or into next week, according to a person familiar with the matter.
Other Republicans wanted to wrap things up as soon as possible, a move leaders had telegraphed for days, so much so that the sudden change in their plans for the acquittal vote until next week caused a minor uproar during GOP lunch on Friday.
Moderate GOP senators then met with McConnell Friday afternoon — including Sens. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Susan Collins of Maine, Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, and Mitt Romney of Utah — to discuss the process for finishing the proceedings. Murkowski is reportedly seeking several days of closed-door deliberations, which is similar what occurred at the end of former President Bill Clinton’s 1999 case.
„[Collins] thinks everyone should have an opportunity to state their views on the record, but she’s not looking for extra time for speeches,“ said a source close to Collins. „In fact, she doesn’t care how much time members get. She thinks the speeches can be short.”
Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) said the party leaders had been exploring how they could successfully wrap up the proceedings.
„[We’ll have a] vote on witnesses … then there is the resolution, like the organizing resolution we had the other evening, where Schumer had what, a dozen, 11 amendments, each debatable for up to two hours divided,“ Barrasso said. „That will happen tonight on Resolution number two, just like they did in the Clinton impeachment.“
Schumer earlier denied press reports that he had presented a draft resolution to his caucus following talks with McConnell, but said he would to defend the minority’s rights.
„We Democrats are united in saying we do not want this rush through,“ Schumer said. „Every senator has obligation, as well as a right, to let the people of their states and the American people know why they’re voting on this resolution, on witnesses and documents, and on whether the president should be convicted,“ Schumer said. „We will fight very hard for that. We are in the minority, but we do have some power in the minority, and we will use it to prevent things from being truncated in the middle of the night.“
A delay would provide more time for closing argument for Trump’s defense team. And senators would get two days to make their own statements on the floor on the case.
It also allowed four Senate Democrats running for president a chance to campaign in Iowa after being stuck in Washington the last two weeks for impeachment trial.
Not all senators were happy about the delay, asserting the trial should be completed as quickly as possible since everyone knows Trump will be acquitted in the end.
„I am confident that there are Republicans who want to be done and out of here. And frankly, there are some Democrats who have had all the fun we can have being together for probably 140 hours,“ said Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.).
The original organizing resolution controlling the impeachment trial only covered up until point when the Senate debated the issue of whether to depose additional witnesses, a position the House managers and Schumer strongly pushed during the last two weeks. McConnell and the White House adamantly opposed that motion, arguing it was unnecessary and could drag the trial on for weeks or months. McConnell and other top Republicans wanted to wrap up the case by late Friday night.
However, the White House request for additional time for closing arguments derailed the GOP timetable. Some Senate Republicans argued the proceedings should be brought to a close as quickly as possible, despite complaints from GOP senators.
„This would be a very bad idea,” Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) tweeted. “After 70+ hours of argument & debate, 180+ questions, the positions are well defined. Time to vote.”
“I would think we would finish today. Maybe a long day, but I think we should go ahead and plow through,” added Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.).
Heather Caygle, Sarah Ferris and James Arkin contributed to this report.
Source: politico.com
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