Sen. Mitch McConnell.Photo: Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc/Getty
Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell has finally indicated how he will vote in former PresidentDonald Trump’s impeachment trial.
McConnell, who previously declined to indicate his position, reportedly told his GOP colleagues that he will vote to acquit Trump, sources toldCNNandPolitico.
“While a close call, I am persuaded that impeachments are a tool primarily of removal and we therefore lack jurisdiction,” McConnell, 78, wrote in a message to colleagues, according to Politico.
A spokesperson for McConnell did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
After the vote on Saturday, McConnell gave remarks from the Senate floor. “There’s no question — none — that President Trump is practically and morally responsible for provoking the events of the day. No question about it. The people who stormed this building believed they were acting on the wishes and instructions of their president,” he said.
McConnell added, “The leader of the free world cannot spend weeks thundering that shadowy forces are stealing our country and then feign surprise when people believe him and do reckless things. We have no power to convict and disqualify a former officeholder who is now a private citizen.”
Donald Trump.Ian MacNicol/Getty
McConnell, who has long been a powerful political ally for Trump, has placed blame on the outgoing president, 74, for his role in inciting the deadlyU.S. Capitol rioton Jan. 6.
McConnell previously helped guide the Senate’s GOP majority towards acquitting Trump in early 2020, after Trump was impeached in December 2019 on two charges connected to his role in the Ukraine scandal.
Trump is largely expected to be acquitted again. It would require 17 Republican senators to vote guilty with the Democratic majority.
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Although it was initially expected that a final decision could come as early as this weekend, on Saturday, the Senatevoted to call witnesses— before ultimately deciding to go ahead with the vote.
The vote was 55-44, with five Republicans crossing party lines to extend the trial: Sens. Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, Mitt Romney, Ben Sasse and Lindsay Graham, who initially voted no before changing his vote.
Although the motion was approved, Democrats and Trump’s legal team reached an agreement to not call witnesses and proceed with the final vote, according toThe Washington Post.A final vote is expected to be delivered later on Saturday, following the conclusion of closing arguments.
source: people.com
