The impeachment of Trump in the Senate: Republicans have tried to stop the process of the former president – International

Almost all Republican senators on Tuesday backed an attempt to block the historic second trial of Donald Trump, accused of “inciting insurgency” in the assault on the Capitol, giving a clear signal that a conviction of the former Republican president remains extremely unlikely. according to AFP. .

The vote took place immediately after 100 senators took an oath to do “justice” in the trial that will begin in the upper house on February 9.

This procedure has a double historical connotation: Donald Trump is the first president of the United States to fall twice under an “impeachment” in the House of Representatives and will be the first to be tried after leaving the White House.

It was this last point that was questioned by the republican libertarian Rand Paul, who considers this process unconstitutional, since the republican billionaire is no longer in office.

By forcing senators to speak openly on the issue, he raised this opinion in session, forcing a vote to block the process or not. Eventually, Rand’s initiative was rejected and Trump’s trial will continue.

And 45 of the 50 Republican senators supported the initiative, including the powerful leader of his group, Mitch McConnell, who has not yet ruled out condemning the former president.

For Rand Paul, this result means that the trial is “dead”, with no possibility of convicting Donald Trump, since it would require 17 Republican votes in addition to the 50 Democrats.

But while some have pointed out that this vote does not prejudge their final decision to convict Donald Trump or not, at least it bears witness to the strong influence of the former president in their party.

Only five Republicans voted against it, along with 50 Democrats: Mitt Romney, Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, Ben Sasse and Pat Toomey.