Live updates: In a surprise move, Senate votes to call witnesses in Trump’s impeachment trial
Democrats defend call for witnesses, while Republicans say ‘the country needs to move on’
By Felicia Sonmez, Mike DeBonis and Seung Min Kim
In the wake of Saturday’s vote by the Senate to call witnesses in Trump’s second impeachment trial, several Democrats defended the move while some Republicans argued that the chamber needs to move on to other matters.
Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) told reporters that he believes the move to call witnesses “is very much in order,” pointing to Beutler’s revelation about Trump’s remarks to McCarthy, which received national attention for the first time Friday night.
“Senate life has always been about dealing with more than one issue. … If there’s one thing members in the United States Senate are conditioned to do day in and day out, it’s handling more than one issue at a time,” Wyden said.
On a call with Senate Democrats after Saturday’s vote, Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) urged members of his caucus to follow the lead of the House impeachment managers, according to people with knowledge of the call.
“I don’t know it’d make the most sense for them to do it,” Schumer said of calling witnesses, according to the people. “But whatever they decide, we should support them.”
Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), meanwhile, argued that the Senate “cannot walk and chew gum” at the same time.
“We should be locked in getting vaccinations in people’s arms right now, locked in on getting the economy going again,” Marshall said. “This is going to delay the work of the people. … The country needs to move on. We need to get locked in on the things that are important.”
Marshall accused Democrats of “trying to add another charge,” even though they have not done so.
“The article of impeachment is about: Did President Trump incite a crowd into a violent mob? And the prosecutors here proved that that’s not the case.”
Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), asked whether he was expecting Saturday’s vote, threw up his hands.
“Shelby says he’s seen three of these and this is the craziest,” Cassidy said, referring to Sen. Richard C. Shelby (R-Ala.).
