After a lengthy argument between House managers and President Donald Trump's counsel, Republicans in the Senate are expected to vote down calls for witnesses in its impeachment trial, starkly contrasting the desire of 75 percent of Americans and dismissing bombshell allegations from potential firsthand witnesses.
Republicans are then expected to vote overwhelmingly to acquit the President.
Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) surprised no one with an announcement in a Medium post that he'd acquit the President, but some were surprised that Rubio didn't claim, as have other Republicans, that Trump's actions were "perfect."
Rubio wrote:
"Just because actions meet a standard of impeachment does not mean it is in the best interest of the country to remove a President from office."
The words seemed to many like a rebuke of Trump, and even an admission that his actions were impeachable.
Rubio said that even assuming arguments from House managers that Trump's actions constituted abuse of power were true, removal of the President would be too divisive:
"I will not vote to remove the President because doing so would inflict extraordinary and potentially irreparable damage to our already divided nation."
The statement, to many, was at odds with itself.
Once Senate Republicans vote down witnesses, they're expected to hold a speedy vote to acquit the President.
You can pre-order the book at the center of the impeachment inquiry—The Room Where It Happened—here.
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