McConnell tells GOP senators he has votes for Trump impeachment trial rules hill.cm/Em3pyST
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) told Republican senators during a closed-door caucus lunch that he has the votes on to force through impeachment trial rules over the objection of Democrats.
Sen. Lindsey Graham told reporters that McConnell said he has 51 votes to follow the Clinton precedent.
That would limit a resolution at the outset of the trial to the rules of the proceeding and delay a decision on witnesses until after the start of the trial.
McConnell had the votes after two GOP swing votes, Sens. Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski, said they would back McConnell's position that the Senate should follow the precedent of the Clinton impeachment trial and defer the question of calling additional witnesses.
“That was whipped today and we do have the votes,” Sen. Mike Braun (R-Ind.) said after the lunch.
