Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) announced Thursday night that he will vote against a motion to consider subpoenas for additional witnesses and documents at the impeachment trial, putting the chamber on track to acquit President Trump on Friday or Saturday.
“There is no need for more evidence to prove that the president asked Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden and his son, Hunter; he said this on television on October 3, 2019, and during his July 25, 2019, telephone call with the president of Ukraine,” Alexander said in a statement released shortly after the Senate ended 16 hours of questions to the impeachment managers and lawyers for Trump’s defense.
“There is no need for more evidence to conclude that the president withheld United States aid, at least in part, to pressure Ukraine to investigate the Bidens; the House managers have proved this with what they call a ‘mountain of overwhelming evidence.’ There is no need to consider further the frivolous second article of impeachment that would remove the president for asserting his constitutional prerogative to protect confidential conversations with his close advisers,’ his statement said.
Alexander’s decision makes it significantly less likely that Democrats will have enough votes to call former national security adviser John Bolton and other witnesses to testify, which would have extended the trial past the weekend and perhaps much longer.
With Alexander joining the overwhelming majority of the Senate GOP conference, it now appears there are no more than three Republican votes for witnesses, which means the question would deadlock in a 50-50 tie or fail 49 to 51.
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#BREAKING: Alexander to vote no on witnesses, bringing Trump impeachment trial close to end https://t.co/e0w3L866Yc pic.twitter.com/ahztWFgNB3
— The Hill (@thehill) January 31, 2020
@SenAlexander chose @realDonaldTrump & his corrupt conduct over a legacy of honor from the Howard Baker lineage from where he came. A long career remembered for subjugating to a crime boss. Sadly, and I'm sorry to say this about a man I once helped, I'm not surprised.
— John Weaver (@jwgop) January 31, 2020
Lamar Alexander is classic example of politician who has a great future behind him. https://t.co/RaU2UDGMCn
— stuart stevens (@stuartpstevens) January 31, 2020
I don't think we need to read anything further from this guy. Ever again.
But remember: He was supposedly one of the "good" and "moderate" Republicans who was supposed to get a pass in opposition to my "vote them out down the roots" argument. https://t.co/GvIHeyCBHK— Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) January 31, 2020
Don't bother with any other of the tweets in this cascade of bullshit. Here, a US Senator admits that Trump did what he's accused of doing, but is going to give him a pass anyway. https://t.co/G8msMlkKwd
— Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) January 31, 2020
It was inappropriate that Trump shot that guy on 5th Avenue.
— Schooley (@Rschooley) January 31, 2020
The next time you criticize Never Trumpers about making fun of Rube Nation, remember that Lamar Alexander is so afraid of his fellow Tennesseans that he fired off his cowardly tweets and fled the Senate chamber rather than have to live among them after crossing Trump.
— Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) January 31, 2020
I think it's wrong to say the GOP electeds "fear Trump." They know Trump's a moron. They fear a tweet that will sic Fox-addled, rage-addicted rubes on them, and endanger not only their political futures but their ability to live back home among the cultists. McCarthyism 2.0.
— Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) January 31, 2020
Republicans are admitting that Trump engaged in a quid pro quo w/ Ukraine to investigate his political rivals, and are saying that not only is it not worthy of removal, it's not worthy of talking to witnesses around him.
Just imagine what Trump will do if he gets a second term.
— Josh Jordan (@NumbersMuncher) January 31, 2020
Support for witnesses in the Senate impeachment trial:
Quinnipiac 75
Monmouth 80
Reuters 72
CNN 69
AP/NORC 68
WaPo 71That's an average of 73%!
Republicans are blocking witnesses while admitting Trump engaged in a quid pro quo. Will voters punish them in November for it?
— Josh Jordan (@NumbersMuncher) January 31, 2020
Abuse of power is impeachable.
Impeachment trials have witnesses.By rejecting these principles, the Senate does lasting harm to our constitutional republic.
— Justin Amash (@justinamash) January 31, 2020
What did everyone expect? This was a preplanned farce — the outcome already determined.
Now the Republicans can go back to doing what they do best — nothing.
If you want to understand just how morally bankrupt and spineless Trump-era Republican politicians have become, consider this: Not even Howard Baker's protege, WHO IS NOT EVEN RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION, has the guts to vote for witnesses…….
— Matt Lewis (@mattklewis) January 31, 2020
"Perhaps Alexander has done us all a favor: the trial that wasn’t really a trial will be over, and we will no longer have to listen to it. The Senate can stop pretending," writes @sbg1 https://t.co/RM1J4aHcx3
— Peter Baker (@peterbakernyt) January 31, 2020
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