The House and Senate are gone and attention is focused on the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden next week. But watch out for any signs that majority leader Mitch McConnell and new majority leader Chuck Schumer are talking about impeachment.
One of the main dynamics that will determine whether senators move forward with an impeachment trial at the beginning of President-elect Joe Biden’s presidency or whether they hope is whether Republicans agree to allow some of Biden’s nominees to move quickly through their morning confirmation processes. before the trial. Multiple sources told CNN that there is still no clear sign as to whether Republicans would allow the kind of Senate double-action trial that Biden suggested he would like to see.
Also, keep an eye on the statements of Republican senators: in the coming days, some Republican senators will make their position on impeachment very clear. Sens. Lindsey Graham and Tim Scott, both Republicans from South Carolina, did this. And Senator Tom Cotton, an Arkansas Republican, said that after Trump stepped down, “the Senate lacks constitutional authority to conduct impeachment proceedings against a former president.”
Senator Rob Portman, an Ohio Republican running for re-election in 2022, said his decision must be based not only on the evidence he hears, but “among my considerations will be what is best to help heal our country rather than deepen our divisions. “
Republicans are expected to have 17 members voting “yes” to condemn Trump in the Senate. All eyes are on what McConnell decides. Several GOP advisers told CNN that McConnell’s decision is certain to have an impact on the conference. But it is also important to remember that while McConnell has a lot of influence, he will not be winning members in a vote like this. And, for members in states where Trump is popular, McConnell’s vote may not influence them at all.
This does not mean that members are not obsessed with where McConnell fits into this. In fact, several Republican members and advisers CNN has spoken to in recent days have wondered why McConnell remained as quiet as before. Members are asking each other what their leader is thinking.
CNN asked a number of Republican senators whether they had heard of McConnell in the past few days on this issue and, in addition to the note for the entire conference he sent on Wednesday, all members and advisers said McConnell has given space members to think about it on their own.