Trump impeachment trial at Senate: who voted in favour?
Senators voted Tuesday to proceed with Donald Trump’s impeachment trial. Who were the 56 senators, both Democrat and Republican who voted it should go ahead?
On Tuesday Donald Trump’s second impeachment trial began in the Senate. He is charged with “inciting insurrection.” The House of Representatives voted to impeach him on 13 January, following a riot on 6 January at the Capitol complex in Washington, DC where five people lost their lives.
How did the Senate vote on day one of Trump’s impeachment?
Tuesday’s opening statements centred on the question of whether the trial itself is constitutional or not. Trump’s defence team claims that the constitution states that an ex-president cannot be tried for impeachment, while Lead House Impeachment Manager Rep. Jamie Raskin has argued that’s not how impeachment works "The constitution makes clear there is no “January exception” to the impeachment power, that a president can't commit grave offenses in their final days and escape any congressional response."
House Democrats went first, using video footage and harrowing first person accounts of the events on 6 January - when just before the Electoral College confirmation of Joe Biden’s victory, the Capitol siege left many lawmakers hiding barricaded in their offices from a largely far-right crowd rampaging through the building, baying for blood.
Trum's defence lawyers argued it was unconstitutional to put a former president through a trial for impeachment and accused Democrats of being politically motivated.
Following almost four hours of statements split equally between prosecution and defence, a vote of 56-44 deemed that the trial is indeed constitutional and will proceed.
The 56 who voted that the impeachment trial should succeed were all 48 Senate Democrats, two independents Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Angus King of Maine. Joining them were six Republican senators: Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Mitt Romney of Utah, Ben Sasse of Nebraska and Patrick J. Toomey of Pennsylvania.
What happens next in Donald Trump’s trial?
Wednesday, 10 February,12pm ET through to Friday: Wednesday is when the trial begins in earnest. The House of Representatives will argue its case; prosecutors and defence will be given up to 16 hours each to present their arguments, with neither side permitted to present for more than eight hours per day.
Friday, 12 February, 5pm ET: Senate breaks for Saturday (TBC whether break will be Saturday or Sunday at time of writing)
Sunday, 14 February, 2pm ET: Senate trial reconvenes Sunday afternoon, continuing presentation of arguments.
Following up to 16 hours each of arguments from prosecutors and defence, senators will have four hours to pose questions. If Democrat Impeachment Managers decide to bring witnesses, four hours of debate split between Republicans and Democrats will take place, then the Senate will vote on whether witnesses are permitted.
Once witnesses and evidence have been presented to the Senate, there will be four hours of closing arguments split between both sides.
Finally, there will be a vote on conviction or acquittal. A two-thirds majority is required to convict, which would mean all Democrats plus 17 Republican senators voting in favour of conviction.