That position puts McConnell in line with the votes he and 43 other Republican senators have already cast, declaring Trump’s second trial unconstitutional. But the Republican leader, who has not spoken to Trump in weeks, suggested that a criminal case against the former president could be appropriate as a solution after the January 6 violent uprising on Capitol Hill.
“The Constitution makes it perfectly clear that presidential criminal misconduct during his term can be prosecuted after the president leaves office, which, in my opinion, alleviates the House’s ‘January exception’ argument,” McConnell wrote to others. republicans.
McConnell is not winning his colleagues’ votes, but the Republican Party leader’s decision to absolve Trump is certain to decrease the number of “yes” votes. About 10 senators are believed to be considering a sentencing vote on Friday, but it is becoming increasingly difficult to see many senators condemning Trump in addition to the six who voted to proceed.
Senators Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania, Ben Sasse of Nebraska and Mitt Romney of Utah voted that the trial is constitutional.
“Based on his comments over the past two months, I really had no idea what he would do,” said Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), A member of the Republican Party leadership team. “He said that everyone should make that decision and their own and I think he thought that would apply to him too.”
McConnell kept his decision closed throughout the trial, until Saturday, and said in his e-mail that he continues to view the verdict as a “vote of conscience”, but shared his choice because his colleagues asked directly how he would vote.
The Senate could give its final vote at the trial as early as Saturday, although a growing debate among Democrats over whether to put last-minute pressure on witnesses could still prolong procedures.
Marianne LeVine contributed to this report.