Senate Republicans plotting for speedy acquittal of Trump: Report

Republican Senators in the US Congress are plotting for a speedy acquittal for the impeachment trial of US President Donald Trump.

News ID: 448170

Date: 29 December 2019 - 10:13

RNA - The Washington-based newspaper The Hill reported on Saturday that Senate Republicans wanted the Trump impeachment over and done as quick as possible so the GOP can focus on the 2020 presidential election.

Last week, the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives impeached the Republican president on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.

The House must now hand the articles of impeachment to  the Senate, the 100-member upper chamber of Congress, to formally launch a trial.

Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who hasn’t yet given an exact timeframe for how long he thinks the trial should take, said he did not need to hear more witness testimonies.

“Do we know enough? Have we learned enough after listening to all this to go on and vote on the two very weak articles of impeachment? Or do we want to have a show trial in which both sides try to embarrass the other and put on a, you know, an embarrassing scene, frankly, for the American people?,” McConnell said, insisting, “I think we've heard enough. After we've heard the arguments, we ought to vote and move on.”

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham made similar comments, saying his goal was “to have as short a trial as possible.”

“I think there's a desire by senators, quite honestly, to get this chapter closed and moved forward,” Graham told reporters.

Republican Senator Kevin Cramer said that when it comes to a trial “shorter is better,” and that he thought his colleagues were coalescing behind that.

“I think shorter is better for lots of reasons,” Cramer said. “I think people are ready to move on.”

847/940