Senate Republicans met today to discuss witnesses and such after the closing arguments were over. The meeting is completed and here’s what we know:
“The overwhelming consensus is we’ve heard enough – and it’s time to move to a final judgment,” said Sen. John Barrasso, a member of the Senate GOP leadership, says after conference meeting
— Manu Raju (@mkraju) January 28, 2020
Bolton claims may be a bust. Senate Republicans hint after a closed-door meeting Tuesday afternoon that the GOP consensus is mostly against witnesses. The whip (vote counter), Sen. John Thune, tells us the Senate trial "shouldn't" go beyond Friday. "We are kind of on schedule"
— Susan Ferrechio (@susanferrechio) January 28, 2020
I like how this sounds. I want to be over and done with this on Friday.
But here’s a couple more tweets that don’t sound aaaassss good….
Cornyn after GOP conference meeting on Senate trial: “Obviously there was a lot of different views about what people heard and mainly the discussion was how to think about it since it’s such a unique process.”
— Katherine Faulders (@KFaulders) January 28, 2020
There is clearly no united position on witnesses coming out of the Senate GOP meeting. Senators are telling reporters to talk to individual senators for their positions.
The Senate vote on whether to call more witnesses is in three days.
— Laura Litvan (@LauraLitvan) January 28, 2020
GOP senate meeting breaking up. @SenAlexander said he’s waiting until after the two days of Q&A to make up his mind on whether to vote for witnesses.
— Eli Stokols (@EliStokols) January 28, 2020
From colleague Jason Donner. Murkowski on Senate GOP Conference mtg on rounds of questions/where GOPers stand with witnesses: "I’m not going to comment on what may have been discussed in the meeting."
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) January 28, 2020
Obviously Romney and Collins are going to side with Democrats on witnesses. If Alexander and Murkowski vote for witnesses, then that’s 51.
However Politico seems more optimistic…
NEW: Senate Republicans feel like they can beat witness vote after private meeting Tuesday. Per attendees, "strong" presentation against hearing new evidence. "I feel good," says third attendee https://t.co/1CkuSYKj2V@BresPolitico @heatherscope @marianne_levine
— Burgess Everett (@burgessev) January 28, 2020