Trump trial could end soon; Alexander says no to witnesses

[turbinetree]

Last edited Fri Jan 31, 2020, 10:51 AM - Edit history (1)

Source: Associated Press

By LISA MASCARO, ERIC TUCKER and ZEKE MILLER
35 minutes ago


WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican Sen. Lamar Alexander of Tennessee declared late Thursday he will oppose calling more witnesses in President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial, all but dashing Democratic efforts to hear more testimony and boosting chances the Senate will vote quickly to acquit the president.

The retiring senator announced his decision by releasing a statement after senators finished a long question-and-answer session with the House Democrats prosecuting the charges and Trump’s lawyers defending the president. It’s a career-capping move by the 79-year-old lawmaker and former governor with a centrist streak in GOP politics.

At the same time, another key Republican, Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, said she would vote for more witnesses, but it would take four GOP senators to break with the majority and join with Democrats to tip the outcome.

Alexander, Collins and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska were playing an over-sized role in the final hours of debate with pointed questions ahead of crucial votes. Another, Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, has made clear he will vote for witnesses.

“There is no need for more evidence,” Alexander said in his statement.

Read more: https://apnews.com/12cbb6666003300732c9182fd9e636b0 Click to copy RELATED TOPICS AP Top News Lamar Alexander Susan Collins Trials General News Politics Lisa Murkowski Impeachments Tennessee Trump impeachment Donald Trump Trump trial could end soon; A

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Bullshit ..............................your a disgrace and should have your pension removed..................... ....................fucking chickenshit....................

Let's remember this "asshole" voted to take away human being health care for starters and he sat on his self righteous ass and voted to confirm Gorsuch who shouldn't even be on the fucking bench and for Kanvaugh, anyone thinks especially in the media that think he is moderate well he is not, he has always put party over country and this just puts the nail in the Constitutional coffin................he doesn't give a shit...........................just like Murkowski and Collins......................


November 3, 3220 cannot get here fast enough....................

[Duppers]

1. Fuck Alexander. "Indivisible" email....

"The Senators’ question time in the impeachment trial just concluded and we have bad news: the moment the questions were over, retiring Senator Lamar Alexander of Tennessee issued a statement that his defining legacy in the Senate will be to cave to Mitch McConnell and vote for a witness-free sham trial."

Fuck him. I've called twice to protest tonight. 😡😡

[olddad65]

2. The Declaration of Independence 7/4/1796 - 1/31/2020 RIP

[ZZenith]

3. "To hear more testimony..."

Uh, how about ANY testimony.

[Iliyah]

4. Gosh . . .

how many times they will say that . . .

fat lady?

[sakabatou]

5. So, no more or any witnesses for the trial itself?

[YOHABLO]

6. Alexander is on his way out the door so he doesn't give a crap.

[Bradical79]

15. Kind of makes it worse

Actively and knowingly hurting our country for no personal gain. Shows the ultimate lack of character.

[ResistantAmerican17]

7. So that means tomorrow morning IMPOTUS

will be burning up the phones shaking down everyone he can and destroying what’s left of the nation’s democratic processes. Thanks Moscow Mitch and the rest of the MAGAT enablers.

[bucolic_frolic]

11. Yes he can do anything to win re-election if he thinks it's in the country's best interest

including cancelling elections! Prepare!!

[duforsure]

8. Alexander now refuses to do his job

By not voting for witnesses , and claiming the American people should decide. Its a cop out by him and a clear refusal to uphold his oath he took entering office. Republicans didn't learn anything from the 2018 Mid Terms. It also shows how corrupt the republican party has become. Voting to protect a presidents criminal behavior will just help Democrats retake the Senate and the Presidency next Nov. . These republicans will be looked at forever badly for doing this . Republicans will also regret giving him and other presidents these additional powers over them. Their refusal to convict will backfire badly for them and their party. Bring on more articles of impeachment Speaker Pelosi.

[The_Counsel]

14. Sadly, Senate Republicans Didn't Take Enough Losses in'18, So They Don't Care.

Folks like Cruz and Scott--who SHOULD have taken it in the ass in '18--are STILL in the Senate fuckin' shit up. McSally LOST her election and STILL ended up in the Senate. It's infuriating....

[Bradical79]

16. They defenitely learned from the midterms, imo

The lesson for them is to drastically ramp up efforts to rig the elections.

[True Blue Drew]

9. Tennessee Treason

He's leaving the Senate anyway! I mean, how fucking gutless do you have to be???

[Duppers]

21. Yes! 👍 EXACTLY.

I called his office, last night twice and again tonight: 202-224-4944

"Tell Sen. Alexander he just sanctioned treason."

[bucolic_frolic]

10. Mitch got a retiring GOP Senator to hold the rotten egg

This was all song and dance all month.

Dems recharge your batteries and prepare to rev up to overdrive come November. 2018 was just a warmup!

[Maxheader]

12. Never any doubt...

Stumpy will go free...again...

[DallasNE]

13. Sen. Alexander's Statement Only Covers One Article Of Impeachment

It covers abuse of power, which he finds no problem with. It doesn't cover obstruction of Congress where the ability of Congress to issue and enforce subpoena's is on the line. Trump's DOJ was in court just yesterday saying that if the Congress wants to enforce it's subpoena power it is not for the courts to intervene but for Congress to use the impeachment power. When the issue goes before the Senate they say that obstruction of Congress is not impeachable. Combined it means there is no power to enforce subpoena's and that should alarm everybody. Congress just lost oversight powers.

Interesting too that the Constitution specifically lists bribery as an impeachable offense yet dangling nearly $400 million in aid in exchange for digging up dirt on a political opponent is not a large enough bribe to meet this test. Time to get real.

[24601]

17. Alexander commented also on the Impeachment's 2nd Article

"He called the second charge, obstruction of Congress, “frivolous.”"

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/30/us/politics/trump-senate-impeachment-trial.html

[DallasNE]

18. Thanks

My source either didn't have that line in it or I somehow missed seeing it. It is brief. In some ways that is even more troubling than his other statement. Trump declared absolute blanket power over all requests from Congress. What purpose does Congress serve, beyond being an absolute rubber stamp for the President?

[Maxheader]

19. The headline should read...

"FAKE TRIAL RELEASES CRIMINALS"

More likely..."We knew this was coming...the scales of justice weep"

[Baclava]

20. Murkowski just voted no to witnesses, should make it 51-49, that's it