It’s being reported now that instead of pushing for a lengthy Senate trial with many witnesses, including Schiff, Trump is leaning toward a short impeachment trial in the Senate with no witnesses:
AXIOS – The Senate trial is poised to be short — perhaps two weeks — and to involve no new witnesses, and Trump has largely come around on this plan, according to two sources familiar with the discussions.
That would represent a significant evolution in the president’s posture, after a flurry of private and public urging by McConnell and Judiciary Chair Lindsey Graham. Sources caution that nothing has been decided yet.
McConnell has said publicly that he would be surprised if there are 67 votes to convict Trump. Privately, he has signaled even greater confidence of acquittal, according to a Republican senator.
McConnell has also indicated he sees nothing but political downside in the futile exercise of calling up controversial witnesses and drawing out a messy Senate show trial.
Besides, all witnesses need 51 votes in the Senate, and it’s highly unlikely that moderate Republicans will cater to Trump’s desires to call up witnesses like Adam Schiff and Hunter Biden.
Trump has been persuaded on this because he believes that Republicans are now winning the impeachment battle:
Initially, POTUS “genuinely wanted a long trial with all the witnesses to push back,” said a source who’s discussed the matter with Trump.
“But now he thinks we’re winning,” the source said. “He’s been talked into being a lot more comfortable with what the Senate wanted all along, which is a short trial and no witnesses.”
A second source familiar with the discussions added: “As far as length of time, it really depends on how long the Senate gives the House to present. Remember, it’s a presentation now. … The [House] managers will be the witnesses.”
I must say I agree with McConnell here that the trial in the Senate should be as short as possible with no witnesses. And I’m glad to see Trump coming around to the idea. A lengthy trial would be exactly what Democrats want because it would make it seem like there is really something of substance to impeachment. Rather, it should go to the Senate to die and die quickly as a statement of just how much of a partisan circus this has been in the House.