GOP Senators Say Only A Few Republicans Will Vote To Condemn Trump

Republicans say the odds that the former President TrumpIranian leader vows ‘revenge’, posting Trump-like image Former Sanders spokesperson: Biden ‘pulls out’ from ‘populist offers’ Justice Department to investigate sudden departure of US lawyer in Atlanta after Trump criticism MORE will be sentenced in an impeachment trial are on the decline, despite the lingering anger of some Republicans at his actions.

Only five or six Republican senators at most appear likely to vote for impeachment, far fewer than the number needed, according to GOP sources.

A two-thirds majority vote would be required for a conviction, which would require at least 17 GOP votes if every Democrat votes to condemn Trump.

Senators say some things have changed in Trump’s favor.

One important development is that Trump has decided not to forgive any of those accused of participating in the Capitol Riot, which would have caused him to lose more Republican support.

“I thought if he forgave the people who participated in that invasion of the Capitol, it would have pushed the number higher because it would have said, ‘These are my guys,’” said a Republican senator, who asked anonymity to speak. how GOP senators are likely to vote.

GOP senators are also concerned about the political reaction of staunch supporters of the former president.

They watched the angry reaction to the Speaker of the House Republican Conference Liz cheneyElizabeth (Liz) Lynn Cheney For Biden, Senate Trial Could Help Bipartism Over COVID Relief McCarthy argues Cheney remains in charge as he asked him to resign Budowsky: Democracy won, Trump lost, President Biden inaugurated MORE (R-Wyo.), Who faces calls to step down from the House GOP leadership team after voting last week to impeach Trump.

A second Republican senator said the Republican Party needed to rebuild itself and warned that it would be difficult to bring the Trump base into the party tent before the 2022 midterm elections and the 2024 presidential election if GOP senators are voting in large numbers to condemn Trump.

“I think his supporters would be very upset,” the lawmaker said.

At the same time, this lawmaker has warned of the dangers of the party being too beholden to Trump.

“The Republican Party is going to have to have a discussion about its future. At some point, it will have to become something more than a person, ”the lawmaker said.

Minority Leader in the Senate Mitch mcconnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnell Trump chooses South Carolina lawyer for impeachment trial McConnell suggests postponing impeachment trial until February For Biden, Senate trial could help bipartisanship around COVID PLUS relief (R-Ky.) Moved Thursday to postpone the start of the trial until mid-February. He is asking House impeachment officials to wait until January 28 to present the impeachment article to the Senate. He wants to give Trump’s legal team until Feb. 11 to submit his pre-trial brief.

This represents a third factor that could dampen the political momentum of Republicans to condemn Trump, as with each passing day his presidency is moving further and further back into the past.

“For the most part, there is a very strong consensus among our members that it is after the fact. He is removed from office and impeachment is a remedy for removing someone from office so there is the constitutional question, ”said the second GOP senator.

“It’s my sense of where most of our members are going to come down,” the source added.

A fourth factor is growing doubt as to whether Chief Justice John Roberts will preside over a Senate trial.

Republicans say if Roberts does not preside and the president is instead occupied by the vice president Kamala harrisKamala HarrisHarris takes up temporary residence at Blair House Amanda Gorman captures national interest after inauguration Democrats officially elect Harrison as DNC chair READ MORE (D-Calif.) – who voted to convict Trump on two articles of impeachment last year – or President Pro Tempore Pat Leahy (D-Vt.), The process will appear to be a partisan exercise.

“He is starting to lose his legitimacy,” the first Republican senator said of an impeachment trial without the president of the Supreme Court.

A third Republican senator who said there were “five or six, maybe” votes to condemn Trump, arguing that there is no point in voting that would further divide the country when the president is already removed from office .

“If people like me vote no, then there are only five or six,” added the senator. “What would he do in the country?”

“I do not know that I want to tell my constituents that you cannot vote for him, they are adults,” added the lawmaker.

Democrats say one of the main reasons for holding a trial, even though Trump is now a private citizen, is to prevent him from running for president again.

The Senate is expected to vote to convict Trump on the pending impeachment clause, then hold a separate simple majority vote to bar him from future office.

A fourth Republican senator also said the expected number of Republican votes to convict Trump would be less than 10.

“I would definitely say less than 10 and I would say five or six is ​​probably about correct,” the lawmaker said.

Republican senators say colleagues who have publicly stated that Trump has committed imputable offenses or who blamed him for inciting the mob that stormed Capitol are most likely to vote to condemn Trump.

Meaning. Ben sasseBen SasseSenate approves waiver for Biden’s Pentagon candidate Budowsky: Democracy won, Trump lost, President Biden ushered in Pompeo calls China’s treatment of Uyghur genocide ‘MORE (R-Neb.) And Pat ToomeyPatrick (Pat) Joseph Toomey Government used Patriot Act to collect logs of website visitors in 2019 Appeals court says NSA bulk phone data collection illegal Dunford steps down as committee chair coronavirus surveillance READ MORE (R-Pa.) Said they believed Trump had likely committed some impenetrable offenses.

Meaning. Mitt RomneyWillard (Mitt) Mitt Romney For Biden, Senate Trial Could Help Bipartism Around COVID Relief Biparty gang in Senate to speak with Biden aide on coronavirus relief GOP senator calls COVID relief plan- 19 of Biden from “ no runner ” MORE (R-Utah) and Susan collinsSusan Margaret Collins For Biden, Senate Trial Could Help Bipartism Around COVID Relief Limbaugh mistakenly says Biden didn’t win legitimately while reacting to the bipartisan Senate gang’s inauguration to speak with the aide of Biden of coronavirus relief PLUS (R-Maine) publicly blamed him for inciting the crowd.

And Sen. Lisa MurkowskiLisa Ann Murkowski For Biden, Senate Trial Could Help Bipartism Around COVID Relief Biparty Senate gang to speak with Biden aide on coronavirus relief The Hill’s Morning Report – Biden takes office, calls for end of the “ uncivil war ” MORE (R-Alaska) asked him to resign prematurely from his post.

There have been reports that McConnell himself has told associates that he believes Trump has committed imprescriptible offenses, and the GOP leader has not said how he would vote.

But many believe McConnell wouldn’t vote to condemn Trump if it hurt a number of his colleagues who will be re-elected in 2022, as Republicans hope they can regain control of the Senate again.