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An overwhelming majority of Republicans in the Senate have spoken out against continuing impeachment proceedings against former US President Donald Trump. After the senators were sworn in as jurors in the trial, 45 of the 50 Republicans in the chamber supported the corresponding objection from their party colleague Rand Paul on Tuesday. Only five Republicans voted with the 50 Democrats.
This means that the process in the Senate will continue to develop from the second week of February. A two-thirds majority for a conviction, which in turn would be a prerequisite for the Trump suspension that Democrats seek, seems extremely unlikely.
Paul argued that the process was unconstitutional because Trump left office on January 20. He noted that the senior senator, Democrat Patrick Leahy, will preside over the proceedings, not the chief justice of the Supreme Court. The Chief Justice must lead the impeachment proceedings against the President. Paul wanted to establish that the procedures would not affect a president but a private person and, therefore, would violate the constitution.
Paul’s argument is “just wrong”
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer called Paul’s line of argument “completely wrong.” Otherwise, a president could avoid impeachment and suspension from office by committing crimes against the country just before the end of his term or by resigning before a Senate trial. Under the constitution, the decision on impeachment procedures rests solely with the Senate.
Leahy had previously been sworn in as president of impeachment. The impeachment proceedings against the President are usually directed by the Chief Justice. Since Trump is no longer president, this role now went to Leahy.
The Senate functions in a similar way to an ordinary court. The 100 senators are sworn in, they test the jury role in the process and make the final decision. Then the prosecution and defense are heard and questioned in the Senate. Normally, with the Senate reading the indictment, the trial would begin immediately. Democrats and Republicans agreed to a two-week period to allow Trump to better prepare.
Biden himself doesn’t believe in success
A two-thirds majority of the senators present is required for a Trump conviction. Republicans and Democrats each have 50 seats in the Senate. So 17 Republicans would also have to face Trump. However, according to a media report, Biden himself does not give the trial against his predecessor a great chance of success. He did not believe that enough Republicans would vote in the Senate to condemn his fellow party members, CNN quoted the US president as saying Monday.
In the House indictment, Democrats accuse Trump of “inciting a riot” over his supporters’ attack on Capitol Hill on January 6. Trump is no longer president, but the impeachment process could result in a lifetime ban from the office at the federal level in the event of a subsequent conviction. That would undo any plans that Trump would run again for president in 2024.
