Senate Republican Party leader Mitch McConnell will vote to absolve former President Donald Trump in his second impeachment trial, Fox News learned, as the fifth day of the trial is underway.
McConnell’s vote was closely watched, as he heavily criticized Trump’s role in inciting the January 6 riot, and his wife – former Transport Secretary Elaine Chao – resigned from the government after the attack that killed at least five people, including a Capitol Police officer.
In a January 19 speech, McConnell, R-Ky., Said that Trump “teased” the crowd that tried to use “fear and violence” to prevent the joint session of Congress from certifying the victory of then-elected President Biden on January 6.
THE CONVICTION VOTE CAN COME SATURDAY, AS IMPEACHMENT TEST ARGUMENTS AND SENATORS ‘QUESTIONS COMPLETE
“The mafia was fed with lies,” McConnell at the time. “They were provoked by the president and other powerful people.”
McConnell alerted colleagues about his decision on Saturday morning by email before the Senate convened for what could have been the last day of Trump’s trial for “inciting insurrection”.
McConnell gave a first sign of where he was when he joined most Republican senators earlier this week to vote that the trial was unconstitutional because Trump is no longer president. In that vote, only six Republican senators joined the Democrats to allow the trial to continue.
DAY FOUR: THE TRUMP IMPEACHMENT DEFENSE RESERVES AFTER THREE HOURS: ‘THERE WAS NO INSURANCE’
The sentencing would always be a difficult escalation, as 17 Republican senators would need to join all 50 Democrats to reach the limit of the supermajority. If McConnell had decided to vote to convict, he may have brought in more of his colleagues, but without his support, Trump is almost certain to be heading for a second acquittal.
McConnell voted once earlier to absolve Trump in his first impeachment trial a year ago, related to abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.