Topline
The Senate on Saturday voted to call witnesses in former President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial, elongating a process that had been headed towards a swift conclusion until new details emerged Friday night of a phone call between Trump and House GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy.
WASHINGTON, DC – FEBRUARY 12: Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) walks with Jason Miller to a meeting room … [+] for former President Donald Trump’s defense lawyers on the fourth day of the Senate Impeachment trials for Trump on Capitol Hill on February 12, 2021 in Washington, DC. Trump’s defense lawyers will present their case on Friday, where his legal team will argue that he should be acquitted of inciting an insurrection. (Photo by Jabin Botsford – Pool/Getty Images)
Key Facts
In addition to Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), a staunch Trump ally who has had meetings with the former president’s defense team, Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Mitt Romney (R-Utah) and Ben Sasse (R-Neb.), all Trump critics.
Graham had tweeted before the vote, “If you want a delay, it will be a long one with many, many witnesses,” something Trump attorney Michael van der Veen vowed to do by subpoenaing “over a hundred” witnesses.
Van der Veen also demanded those interviews take place “not by zoom” but “in my office in Philadelphia,” prompting laughter from senators, to which he responded, “why are you laughing?”
Impeachment manager Jamie Raskin had a much narrower scope of inquiry in mind, asking for permission to subpoena Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-Wash.), who alleged Trump told McCarthy the Capitol rioters were “more upset about the election” that he was in a call during the attack.
Raskin also suggested subpoenaing Trump after his attorneys failed to answer basic questions about his knowledge of the attack, telling van der Veen: “There’s only one person the president’s counsel needs to interview, and that’s their own client.”
Crucial Quote
“This is an additional, critical piece of corroborating evidence confirming the charges before you,” Raskin said of Herrera’s statement, adding that it proves Trump’s “dereliction of duty.”
Surprising Fact
After already voting, Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) asked for clarification on what, precisely, the motion on witnesses would do.
Chief Critic
“Kangaroo court anyone? No end in sight. This could drag on indefinitely,” tweeted Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas). “Meanwhile, no cabinet noms are getting done, no Covid relief etc. Biden folks can’t be happy.”
Tangent
Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wisc.), a Trump ally, was reportedly furious about the outcome of the vote. He engaged in a shouting match with Romney and at one point told Sen. Kyrsten Sinema “we should’ve just ended this, that’s all I’m saying,” according to CBS’ Grace Segers and Fox News’ Jason Donner.
Big Number
17. That’s how many Republicans would need to vote with Democrats in order for Trump to be convicted – a highly unlikely prospect given Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell’s stated intention to vote to acquit. Even among the six Republicans who voted that the trial is constitutional, two – Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) and Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) – voted not to call witnesses.
What To Watch For
The vote now precipitates individual votes on witnesses, though the timing and structure of those votes remains unclear. Jake Sherman, founder of political newsletter Punchbowl News, predicted the development will “elongate this trial likely by weeks,” adding that resolutions to subpoena witnesses could face the Senate’s normal 60-vote threshold pending a “negotiation between the two sides.”