Some of the 2020 Democratic presidential contenders who have been held up at the Senate’s impeachment trial against President Donald Trump are reportedly ready to move on from the trial.
As of Tuesday evening, it seems that senators who are vying for the party’s nomination to take on Trump in the 2020 election are ready to get back on the campaign trail, The Washington Post White House reporter Seung Min Kim reported.
Additionally, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) expressed to his colleagues during a closed-door meeting on Tuesday that he doesn’t have the votes yet to block witnesses from appearing at the Senate trial. Meanwhile, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) has continued to pressure Republicans to back witnesses.
The witness vote is expected to occur on Friday, according to people familiar. However, Senate Democrats will need at least four Republicans to vote in support of calling witnesses to the trial.
While McConnell has shared that he doesn’t have the votes yet, several 2020 Democratic presidential contenders are “saying they’re ready to move on to final vote, move on from the trial,” Seung Min Kim reported.
Though the reporter didn’t specifically identify who those senators are, among the 2020 hopefuls who are senators include Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), and Michael Bennet (D-Colo.).
Although McConnell reportedly said Republicans don’t have the votes yet to block new witnesses, Republican lawmakers appeared confident after Tuesday’s meeting that they are “100 percent united in this process to this point,” as Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) said.
Additionally, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said, “I feel good. I feel good that we’re in a good spot, in terms of ending the trial sooner rather than later.”
On the other hand, Schumer told CNN on Tuesday, “There are 10 to 12 Republicans who have never said a bad word about witnesses or documents, who know in their hearts it’s the right thing to do. But they have to weigh that against the pressure, the twisting of arms, that Donald Trump and Mitch McConnell will put on them.”
“Are we feeling better today than we did a few days ago? Absolutely,” Schumer added.