WASHINGTON (AP) – Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Tuesday he has secured the Republican votes needed to start President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial and postpone a decision on witnesses or documents that Democrats want.
McConnell is expected to launch the trial as soon as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi sends the articles of impeachment to the Senate. She is set to meet late Tuesday with her leadership team.
“We have the votes,” McConnell told reporters. He said the question of new witnesses will be addressed later “and not before the trial begins.”
The GOP leader told senators at their closed-door lunch Tuesday has support for his plan, which is modeled after Bill Clinton’s impeachment trial 20 years ago. It would start the trial first and postpone votes on witnesses until later in the process.
“He has 51, for sure,”‘ said Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., a top ally of the president, exiting the meeting.