rollcall--2020-01-30--Impeachment news roundup: Jan. 30

Impeachment news roundup: Jan. 30

Republican Rep. Mark Meadows watches Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer talk to reporters in the Senate subway during a break in President Donald Trump ’ s impeachment trial .
( Caroline Brehman/CQ Roll Call ) An audible murmur emanated from both sides of the aisle when Chief Justice John Roberts read aloud Sen. Elizabeth Warren ’ s question asking whether the trial ’ s proceedings reflect poorly on the chief justice himself .
Roberts did not visibly react to the contents of the card about himself as he read it aloud .
“ In a time when large majorities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , does the fact that the chief justice is presiding over an impeachment trial in which Republican senators have thus far refused to allow witnesses and evidence contribute to the loss of legitimacy of the chief justice , the Supreme Court , and the Constitution ?
” Roberts read .
Democratic House manager Adam B. Schiff attempted to quell the tensions by responding that the chief justice has “ presided admirably.
” “ I don ’ t think a trial without witnesses reflects poorly on the chief justice .
I think it reflects @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , referring to Congress ’ handling of impeachment and Senate Republicans ’ refusal to call new relevant witnesses .
Sen. Ted Cruz struck a different tone from Republican leadership on how confident he is that the GOP can quash a resolution to call additional witnesses and evidence .
“ I think it ’ s still close and up in the air , ” the Texas Republican said .
Cruz said “ several ” senators are still on the fence and that he likely won ’ t know for sure “ until the vote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ R-S.C. , said he does not expect the vote to end up in a tie , but he didn ’ t predict which way the vote would go .
Scott said if the witness vote fails , McConnell can immediately call for votes on the articles but he doesn ’ t think the majority leader will do that “ because it would be amended and you ’ d have this — you ’ re gon na have to give senators enough time to flesh out this issue before expecting a conclusion.
” Scott @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get to that question at all.
” Sen. John Tester , D-Mont.
, told reporters , “ We 've got some concerns , so there will be some motions .
I do n't know if there 'll be a lot ” of votes tomorrow if the witness vote fails .
He said they may hold a substantial number of votes “ if we can get something .
If it is for the sake of a 12-hour session , I do n't know.
” White House aide Eric Ueland told reporters that “ we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ case the Senate votes to call witnesses .
But when asked about how the vote may play out , he said , “ We ’ ll deal with tomorrow ’ s debate tomorrow.
” 7:15 p.m. | Getting this done : Sen. John Thune told reporters , “ There will be a lot of interest on our side ” to finish the impeachment trial Friday if Republicans prevail on Friday ’ s anticipated witness vote .
Democrats have tools to force further votes though , and the South Dakota Republican acknowledged those could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Right now , 51 votes wins .
But I suspect the Democrats , if they want to , can engage in any number of dilatory tactics to try and drag it out — you know , like , as you found with the organizing resolution there , ” Thune said .
Thune said Republicans may consider convening Saturday for the final vote but may push for the late-night vote despite potential concerns about the optics of acquiring Trump during the night .
“ But I can tell you .
We have a high @ @ @ @ @ @ @ done , ” Thune said .
5:13 p.m. | Schiff wants one week for witnesses : Lead impeachment manager Adam B. Schiff rebutted arguments from Republicans that calling witnesses would prolong the trial , suggesting a limited one-week time frame for depositions .
He pointed to the one-week deposition period used during the 1999 Clinton impeachment trial and said the Senate could resume its regular legislative business while depositions were conducted .
“ Is that too much to ask in the name of fairness — that we follow the Clinton model , that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asked .
“ Are we really driven by the timing of the State of the Union ?
Should that be a guiding principle ?
Can ’ t we take one week to hear from these witnesses ?
” “ I think we can , ” Mr. Schiff concluded .
“ I think we should .
I think we must.
” Schiff ’ s comments on the floor echoed what Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer told reporters Wednesday .
He said that when he pushed for hearing from witnesses at the beginning of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after the arguments but now are saying there is no time for witnesses .
“ We could get the whole thing done in a week , ” said Schumer .
4:15 p.m. | Trial could end Friday : Sen. Jon Tester , D-Mont.
, told reporters Thursday that whether the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump continues through the weekend will depend on how the vote on additional witnesses plays out Friday .
“ There are a lot of people that have said that the president wants this wrapped up by the Super @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Tester said .
The Senate began its second and final day of questions and answers of the two sides in the trial , as Republicans are growing increasingly confident that the proceeding may conclude Friday .
Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has indicated he wants to move to a vote on a verdict if the chamber can successfully block a motion for new witnesses to testify .
After finishing the 16 hours of questions and answers Thursday , the trial will resume Friday with four hours of debate — divided evenly between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on witnesses .
Sen. Joni Ernst said she is “ hopeful ” that the Senate will bring the trial to an end soon and added it is “ possible ” the chamber votes not to have witnesses and votes on whether to remove the president by the end of the day Friday .
The Iowa Republican said she was told by leadership that they will be “ deliberating in private.
” She did not specify where they will be deliberating or whether deliberations will be bipartisan .
“ Momentum is on the side @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tomorrow , ” Sen. John Barrasso of Wyoming said .
Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer has suggested that he may force a number of votes on motions for new witnesses and documents , as he similarly did during the organizing stage of the trial , in an effort that could delay the final votes on conviction .
The GOP is ready to ride out those votes just like they did at the beginning of the trial , Barrasso said .
3:45 p.m. | Feingold letter : Former Sen. Russ Feingold , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hearing from witnesses in the 1999 impeachment trial of Bill Clinton , wrote a letter to Republican senators Thursday urging them to fulfill their “ constitutional duty to hold a full and fair trial ” by allowing witnesses .
The Wisconsin Democrat , who lost his seat to Sen. Ron Johnson in 2010 and was defeated again in 2016 , cited the Democrats ’ inability to secure testimony from key witnesses with direct knowledge of the events surrounding Trump ’ s alleged misconduct and the “ proliferation of additional evidence ” that has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ articles to support his plea for more witnesses .
Feingold and Maine Sen. Susan Collins were the only senators to ask a bipartisan question during the Clinton impeachment trial ’ s written question phase .
He ultimately voted to acquit Clinton on all charges .
3:15 p.m. | Jack Reed stumps both sides : Sen. Jack Reed and other Democrats asked House impeachment managers and the president ’ s counsel who paid Rudy Giuliani ’ s legal fees , international travel costs and other expenses in his capacity as Trump ’ s personal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Schiff , the lead impeachment manager , said he doesn ’ t know , but that it “ raises profound questions.
” “ I don ’ t know who ’ s directly paying the freight for it , but I can tell you the whole country is paying the freight for it because there are leaders around the world who are watching this , and they ’ re saying the American presidency is open for business , ” Schiff said .
Trump attorney Jay Sekulow avoided answering the question and instead dove @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about the Bidens and their activities in Ukraine .
1:35 p.m. | Paul defies Roberts : After Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. passed on reading a question that named the possible intelligence community whistleblower , Sen. Rand Paul left the chamber and immediately held a news conference reading the question in front of the TV cameras .
Paul read the question aloud , pertaining to the contact between a staffer for House Intelligence Chairman Adam B. Schiff and a person who has been speculated by other parties to be the whistleblower .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ do with the whistleblower and that he didn ’ t know his or her identity .
“ My question is about two people who are friends who worked at the National Security Council , ” Paul said .
“ Manager Schiff says he has no knowledge .
If he has no knowledge , the rest of us can have no knowledge of who the whistleblower is .
The president ’ s team says they have no knowledge of who the whistleblower is , ” Paul said .
“ I think it was an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make no reference.
” Paul then highlighted his support for Edward Snowden .
“ You shouldn ’ t be able to use statutes to somehow make a whole part of the discussion over this impeachment go away .
Look , I ’ m the biggest defender of the whistleblower statute .
I ’ ve been one saying that Edward Snowden was the greatest whistleblower of all time , ” Paul said .
“ Half of these people down here who say they support the whistleblower statute want to put Edward Snowden to death @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the whistleblower whose report is at the center of the allegation requested anonymity and went through appropriate and legal channels for reporting concerns related to national security .
Paul said he opted against prolonging Thursday ’ s session by forcing a debate on whether to overrule the decision by the chief justice to decline to read the question as drafted .
“ That was a debate I made up until the very last minute , and I decided that we ’ re going to have enough voting tomorrow , ” the Kentucky @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we 're going to have enough voting tomorrow , that rather than delay the proceeding — I think we ’ re going to have 12 hours of voting tomorrow.
” 12:45 p.m. | A big “ unknown ” : Republican Sen. Mike Braun said two , three and four “ are pretty important numbers ” referring to the number of Republican votes Democrats would need to pass a motion for a vote for more witnesses .
Three would result in a tie , and the Braun said it ’ s “ an unknown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to break a tie .
“ I think it will be interesting because I think whatever the chief justice does , there ’ s still the Senate with 51 votes that could either say it ’ s okay or overrule it , ” he said .
12:35 p.m. | Undecided : Alabama Democratic Sen. Doug Jones continued to assert he is undecided on whether he ’ ll vote to convict or acquit Trump , noting he still has questions .
“ I haven ’ t been satisfied , complete with answers from anybody @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be the most vulnerable senator up for reelection this year .
12:10 p.m. | “ Up in the air ” : Republican Sen. John Cornyn said the question of whether the Senate will allow witness testimony is “ still up in the air , ” but Republicans seem to be coming around to the realization that if they open the trial up to witnesses , it will result in several called and potentially months of delay .
If witnesses are not allowed , “ then I suspect , there ’ ll be consideration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vote , ” he said .
12:04 p.m. | Wondering : House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy railed against House impeachment manager Adam B. Schiff for declining to release a transcript of House investigators ’ deposition of Intelligence Community Inspector General Michael Atkinson .
“ Seventeen of the 18 transcripts have been let go .
One has not — 179 pages of the inspector general .
I wonder why , ” McCarthy said at his weekly news conference .
“ If any of this was bad for the president , it ’ d first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ d be released , '' he said .
Schiff has declined to make the transcript public because the House Intelligence Committee he chairs is still probing Atkinson ’ s handling of the whistleblower complaint that sparked the impeachment investigation .
Schiff has said the IG found the whistleblower ’ s complaint “ credible.
” 12:02 p.m. | Pressure is on : Democrats need four Republican votes to have a chance at calling witnesses , such as Bolton , acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney and other witnesses the Democrats want to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Right now our focus is on getting four Republicans , ” Senate Minotiry Leader Charles E. Schumer said .
GOP Sens .
Lisa Murkowski , Susan Collins and Mitt Romney have indicated they could be inclined to vote to hear from witnesses , but Schumer did not shed any light on who the fourth—and integral—Republican vote would be .
“ Look , we ’ ve always said this is an uphill fight , ” Schumer said , adding the Democrats are still “ hopeful ” and that “ truth prevails.
” Asked who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democratic Sen. Chris Coons said , “ I have no idea .
And that ’ s the biggest challenge we face.
” 11:56 a.m. | Bogus : Schumer said he thought the first day of senators ’ questions were advantageous for his Democratic caucus , noting that some of the best questions came from Republicans , including Collins , Murkowski and Romney .
Collins and Murkowski , who are moderates , asked Trump ’ s lawyers if they could give an example of the president showing concern about Hunter and Joe Biden before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ The president ’ s counsel could not point to a single example to support the claim , ” Schumer told reporters .
“ So he made up a bogus excuse that his answer was limited to what 's in the record.
” “ Senator Romney asked the president ’ s counsel if they could clarify the specific date when the president ordered the delay in military assistance , and what reason he gave for doing it , ” the New York Democrat added .
“ Again , the president ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ answer Senator Romney.
” 11:50 a.m. | Burn : Schumer took aim at an argument provided by one of the president ’ s lawyers , Alan Dershowitz .
“ Yesterday , [ Dershowitz ] went even further , suggesting that because presidents believe their reelection is in the public interest — when they do things to benefit their reelection — it is in the public interest and they can basically do whatever they want , ” Schumer said .
“ I hear he ’ s correcting it on TV today .
That seems @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : He gives a statement on the floor and then spends the next day correcting it .
What a load of nonsense.
” Schumer , a Harvard Law School graduate , when asked if he took Dershowitz ’ s class , said he did not .
“ That ’ s why my arguments are cogent , ” Schumer said .
11:41 a.m. | No crime , but “ legitimate concerns ” : Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham told reporters he is “ more optimistic than ever , ” that Republicans would find the votes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s argument that as long as there was “ a scintilla ” of evidence that Trunp had a non-personal motive , the Senate should not impeach him .
He explained his earlier comments that the quid pro quo described by House managers as “ disturbing , ” saying he did not think such an exchange is impeachable .
“ Even if you assume the facts most favorable to the government , then this is not a crime .
This is a partisan impeachment , ” Graham said .
While he did not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he acknowledged “ legitimate concerns ” about the use of presidential power .
“ I think the [ Rudy Giuliani ] involvement is a legitimate concern , but it it not bribery , it is not treason and [ Ukraine ] got the money , ” Graham said .
Multiple witnesses in the House inquiry testified that Giuliani was Trump ’ s point man in the shadow foreign policy operation to pressure Ukraine to announce an investigation into the Bidens .
11:38 a.m. | Outing the whistleblower : Paul ’ s office @ @ @ @ @ @ @ insist on asking a question at the start of this afternoon ’ s session .
According to multiple reports , Paul has drafted a question that would identify by name the alleged identity of the intelligence community whistleblower .
On Wednesday , Roberts reportedly passed on a question from Paul that would have identified the whistleblower , which Roberts made clear at the beginning of the question and answer period that he would not allow .
Paul was overheard in an animated discussion with a McConnell staffer in the Senate cloakroom , saying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for recognition , I will.
” 11:22 a.m. | Roberts rules : If there is a question about evidence or if a Senate vote on witnesses or documents results in a tie , Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she hopes senators would leave it up to Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. to decide , although she acknowledged Republicans seem reticent to let that happen .
“ That ’ s interesting to me that they ’ re afraid of breaking a tie with the chief justice of the United States , ” she said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ acquit Trump of the two impeachment articles without having called witnesses or introduced documents , Pelosi said she won ’ t accept the result as valid .
“ He will not be acquitted , ” she said .
“ He can not be acquitted if you don ’ t have a trial.
” 11:20 a.m. | Courage : Pelosi expressed hope that Democrats ’ push for witnesses and documents in the trial will prevail — “ not that we think we need it to bolster our case ” — so Americans get to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pray that the senators will have the courage and the ability to handle the truth instead of blocking the truth , ” she said .
Pelosi declined to say whether the House would subpoena Bolton if an effort to do so in the trial fails .
She also declined to answer other questions about what the House might or might not do in terms of investigations if the trial ends without additional witnesses or documents , saying Democrats remain “ prayerful and hopeful ” senators will vote to subpoena new evidence .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did our job , ” she said of the House .
“ No matter what the senators have the courage or not to do , he will be impeached forever.
” 10:40 a.m. | “ Deranged ” : Trump weighed in on the proceedings this morning , tweeting a Fox News report on lead House impeachment manager Adam B. Schiff being “ blasted ” for not focusing on the homeless and saying that Schiff ’ s California district “ is in terrible shape.
” 8:30 a.m. : Vote counting : After the ground @ @ @ @ @ @ @ national security adviser John Bolton ’ s yet-to-be-published manuscript , Republicans appear to be more sure they have the votes needed to block witnesses .
“ That 's where all the momentum is in our party right now , ” Senate Republican Conference Chairman John Barrasso told CQ Roll Call .
So far the only Republican senators who have signaled they 're likely to vote for considering witnesses are Sens .
Mitt Romney , Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski .
If all three backed a motion for votes on witnesses supported by all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a 50-50 vote tie — short of a majority .
8:10 a.m. : Wait , what ?
: Democrats called Dershowitz ’ s argument “ bizarre ” and “ laughable.
” Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand called it “ a laughable argument that undermines the president 's case.
” Sen. Chris Murphy summarized Dershowitz ’ s argument as “ anything the President does to get re-elected is by definition unimpeachable .
”

Updated 7:35 p.m.
An audible murmur emanated from both sides of the aisle when Chief Justice John Roberts read aloud Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s question asking whether the trial’s proceedings reflect poorly on the chief justice himself.
Roberts did not visibly react to the contents of the card about himself as he read it aloud.
“In a time when large majorities of Americans have lost faith in government, does the fact that the chief justice is presiding over an impeachment trial in which Republican senators have thus far refused to allow witnesses and evidence contribute to the loss of legitimacy of the chief justice, the Supreme Court, and the Constitution?” Roberts read.
Democratic House manager Adam B. Schiff attempted to quell the tensions by responding that the chief justice has “presided admirably.”
“I don’t think a trial without witnesses reflects poorly on the chief justice. I think it reflects poorly on us,” Schiff said, referring to Congress’ handling of impeachment and Senate Republicans’ refusal to call new relevant witnesses.


rollcall--2020-01-31--Puerto Rico disaster bill would revive older tax breaks

California Rep. Mike Thompson pushed back on GOP criticism , saying it was common practice to combine relief provisions for disaster-stricken areas into one bill .
( Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call file photo ) House Democrats have tucked tax relief for rum distilleries and more generous refunds for lower-income island residents into a disaster aid package intended to help Puerto Rico recover from an unusually destructive spate of recent earthquakes .
Backers say the add-ons are part of an ongoing effort to help Puerto Rico and other territories such as the U.S. Virgin Islands , also hit hard by hurricanes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the effort a typical congressional maneuver of piling on to a must-pass bill .
House Appropriations Chairwoman Nita M. Lowey unveiled an updated version of the disaster aid package Tuesday , which the chamber is expected to take up next week .
The expanded bill follows a series of earthquakes that hit the island in late December and earlier this month , and ongoing fights between Congress and the White House over held-up hurricane relief money .
Puerto Rico was devastated by Hurricane Maria in 2017 and , in the midst of recovery @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year .
The House Ways and Means Committee-drafted tax title contains a section that is nearly identical to a $ 6.8 billion provision in a bill the panel approved last June .
It would encourage Puerto Rico and other U.S. territories and possessions to expand their earned income tax credit programs .
Over the next five years , the federal Treasury would make matching payments to Puerto Rico for such EITC expansions , while the U.S. Virgin Islands , American Samoa , Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands would receive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ same earlier Ways and Means bill would also make payments to the territories for the cost of child tax credits , which are available to parents of children aged 17 and under up to certain income limits .
The maximum credit per child is $ 2,000 , though the portion available as a refundable credit , or over and above income tax liability , is $ 1,400 ; the Ways and Means-approved bill would make the full credit refundable for lower-income families .
For Puerto Rico and the other territories , the new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the $ 1,400 cap , but it would otherwise replicate the effects of the earlier Ways and Means bill .
It would also ensure that all Puerto Rican families can access the credit ; under current law , only families with three or more children are eligible .
The disaster bill also includes a provision that would divert the full amount of the $ 13.50 per proof gallon rum excise tax paid by U.S. producers and importers to the governments of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands .
Currently , the limit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ known as a “ cover-over ” — is $ 13.25 per proof gallon , a figure that drops to $ 10.50 starting in 2022 .
The uncapped rum cover-over would be made permanent .
Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands spend some of those funds to promote and assist their large rum industries — Bacardi produces most of its rum at a large distillery in San Juan , while Diageo ’ s Captain Morgan and Beam Suntory ’ s Cruzan make their signature rum on St. Croix .
Historically $ 0.46 per @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gone to the Conservation Trust of Puerto Rico , a nonprofit organization that seeks to protect the island ’ s natural resources , boost ecotourism and more .
The disaster aid bill would codify and make permanent that arrangement .
The prior five-year extension of the $ 13.25 a gallon cover-over was estimated to cost $ 676 million , so a permanent repeal of the limitation could easily cost more than $ 1 billion over 10 years .
Similar standalone rum tax legislation has been introduced in both chambers , each predating the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ effort to make the higher cover-over amounts permanent has been around for years , practically since the provision was first enacted in 1999 .
Given such history , some Republicans are questioning why the language should be part of an emergency spending bill .
“ That ’ s a weird place to put it , ” said Ways and Means member David Schweikert of Arizona .
However , it ’ s “ become more typical ” in recent years to pile measures into must-pass bills as a partisan Congress has a harder and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ It ’ s not that the tradition of Christmas trees hasn ’ t been around forever , ” Schweikert said , referring to must-pass bills that become the vehicles for sometimes scores of unrelated measures .
“ It ’ s that now we have ornaments being attached that we ’ ve never seen , or we haven ’ t seen in a very long time , ” he said .
Democrats , though , say these added provisions fit well with other recovery measures such as the $ 3.26 billion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and $ 1.25 billion for road repairs .
“ These provisions complement our emergency appropriations and help put Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands on the path to long-term recovery , ” said Evan Hollander , a spokesman for Lowey .
Rep. Mike Thompson , who chairs the Ways and Means Select Revenue Measures Subcommittee , said it was common practice to combine relief provisions for disaster-stricken areas into one bill .
“ There ’ s a lot of disaster areas across the country , ” the California Democrat said .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our federal government needs to be there for the people that we represent .
Straightforward stuff .
”

House Democrats have tucked tax relief for rum distilleries and more generous refunds for lower-income island residents into a disaster aid package intended to help Puerto Rico recover from an unusually destructive spate of recent earthquakes.
Backers say the add-ons are part of an ongoing effort to help Puerto Rico and other territories such as the U.S. Virgin Islands, also hit hard by hurricanes in recent years. But Republicans call the effort a typical congressional maneuver of piling on to a must-pass bill.
House Appropriations Chairwoman Nita M. Lowey unveiled an updated version of the disaster aid package Tuesday, which the chamber is expected to take up next week. The expanded bill follows a series of earthquakes that hit the island in late December and earlier this month, and ongoing fights between Congress and the White House over held-up hurricane relief money. Puerto Rico was devastated by Hurricane Maria in 2017 and, in the midst of recovery, was hit by Hurricane Dorian last year.
The House Ways and Means Committee-drafted tax title contains a section that is nearly identical to a $6.8 billion provision in a bill the panel approved last June. It would encourage Puerto Rico and other U.S. territories and possessions to expand their earned income tax credit programs. Over the next five years, the federal Treasury would make matching payments to Puerto Rico for such EITC expansions, while the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands would receive 75 cents on the dollar.
That same earlier Ways and Means bill would also make payments to the territories for the cost of child tax credits, which are available to parents of children aged 17 and under up to certain income limits. The maximum credit per child is $2,000, though the portion available as a refundable credit, or over and above income tax liability, is $1,400; the Ways and Means-approved bill would make the full credit refundable for lower-income families.


rollcall--2020-01-30--With Alexander a ‘no’ on witnesses, impeachment trial enters stretch run

Senators used their second and final day of questioning in the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump to tee up debate on whether to subpoena documents and witnesses that did not appear during the House ’ s inquiry .
The late-night announcement that Tennessee Republican Lamar Alexander will vote against additional witnesses Friday signals there likely won ’ t be enough votes to continue the trial much longer .
After senators exhausted their cumulative 16-hour Q & A session with House managers and Trump ’ s lawyers , Alexander , who will retire at the end of this term , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new witnesses .
“ It was inappropriate for the president to ask a foreign leader to investigate his political opponent and to withhold United States aid to encourage that investigation .
When elected officials inappropriately interfere with such investigations , it undermines the principle of equal justice under the law .
But the Constitution does not give the Senate the power to remove the president from office and ban him from this year ’ s ballot simply for actions that are inappropriate , ” he said in a statement .
“ The question @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it , but whether the United States Senate or the American people should decide what to do about what he did .
I believe that the Constitution provides that the people should make that decision in the presidential election that begins in Iowa on Monday , ” Alexander continued .
With all eyes on moderates , Republicans and Democrats who reside in the middle took the chance Thursday to dig into remaining uncertainties they had about the case before the next day ’ s critical vote .
Alexander , a moderate and institutionalist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ until Thursday night .
Among the most scrutinized senators , Maine Republican Susan Collins was first out of the gate after the chamber adjourned Thursday to announce she would vote to consider witnesses .
“ I believe hearing from certain witnesses would give each side the opportunity to more fully and fairly make their case , resolve any ambiguities , and provide additional clarity .
Therefore , I will vote in support of the motion to allow witnesses and documents to be subpoenaed , ” she said in a statement .
Democrats contend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ White House Office of Management and Budget and hear from former Trump officials like John Bolton .
They assert those documents and witnesses can undisputedly prove that Trump temporarily withheld $ 391 million in military aid intended for Ukraine in hopes that Kyiv would announce an embarrassing investigation into Trump ’ s potential 2020 opponent , former Vice President Joe Biden .
Republican leadership and Trump ’ s defense team argue no additional information should be introduced to the case .
It will take four Senate Republicans to join all Democrats to get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ documents and keep the trial going .
Absent that , a majority of senators could vote against the introduction of new information .
That will inevitably lead to an end to the trial , which would conclude with votes to acquit or convict the president .
The most pointed question Thursday came more than seven hours into questioning when Alaska Republican Lisa Murkowski asked Trump ’ s lawyers why the Senate should not call Bolton to testify when there are competing reports on whether Trump sought a political favor in exchange for military @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reportedly says that Trump did exactly what Democrats allege .
In her query , Murkowski said the dispute about material facts “ weighs in favor ” of calling material witnesses .
Later , again in prime time , West Virginia Democrat Joe Manchin III asked why the Senate shouldn ’ t “ slow down ” after Trump ’ s counsel and other Republicans argued that the House rushed its impeachment proceedings .
Alexander asked his first question late Thursday , joined by Republican Sens .
Ted Cruz of Texas and Steve Daines of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the bipartisanship in the Nixon , Clinton and Trump proceedings .
“ Specifically , how bipartisan was the vote in the House of Representatives to authorize and direct the House committees to begin formal impeachment inquiries for each of the three presidents ?
” the Alexander question said .
The senators certainly already knew what Trump ’ s lawyers would later clarify : That 31 Democrats joined Republicans in the Clinton inquiry , and no Republicans joined Democrats to authorize the Trump investigation .
Murkowski joined Hawaii Democrat Brian Schatz to ask , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ permissible political actions and impeachable political actions ?
” Throughout the trial , Trump ’ s defense team has argued that elected officials often make policy decisions with their next election in mind .
The House managers , though , assert that Trump ’ s alleged scheme had no policy implications .
Earlier , Collins led a group of four Republicans to ask both sides whether there were any “ legitimate ” reasons a president could ask a foreign government to “ investigate a U.S. citizen , including a political rival , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government ?
” Alabama Democrat Doug Jones , who is facing a tough 2020 reelection campaign in a state that Trump won handily , asked the House managers what authority substantiated the subpoenas issued by House members before the chamber officially voted to start their impeachment inquiry .
The White House ’ s refusal to cooperate with congressional subpoenas is at the heart of the second article of impeachment .
Manchin , Schatz and New York Democrat Kirsten Gillibrand asked the managers and Trump ’ s counsel if they had ever been involved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unable to call witnesses or submit evidence .
Schatz and Gillibrand will surely vote to hear from additional witnesses , but Manchin has sided with Republicans before on consequential votes , like when he broke with his party to support the confirmation of Supreme Court Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh .
Late Thursday , Collins , and Republican Sens .
Marco Rubio of Florida and Jim Risch of Idaho asked the House managers why they withdrew their subpoena for former deputy national security adviser Charles Kupperman during the impeachment inquiry .
Trump allies have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fast-tracked Trump ’ s impeachment for their own political purposes and now want the Senate to conduct the investigatory work that the House neglected .
Lead impeachment manager Adam B. Schiff rebutted arguments from Republicans that calling witnesses would prolong the trial , suggesting a limited one-week time frame for depositions .
He pointed to the one-week deposition period used during the 1999 Clinton impeachment trial and said the Senate could resume its regular legislative business while depositions were conducted .
“ Is that too much to ask in the name of fairness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , that we take one week ?
” he asked .
“ Are we really driven by the timing of the State of the Union , should that be a guiding principle ?
Can ’ t we take one week to hear from these witnesses ?
” “ I think we can , ” Schiff concluded .
“ I think we should .
I think we must.
” Schiff ’ s comments on the floor echoed what Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer told reporters Wednesday .
He said that when he pushed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the trial , Republicans said to wait until after the arguments , but now are saying there is no time for witnesses .
“ We could get the whole thing done a week , ” said Schumer .

Senators used their second and final day of questioning in the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump to tee up debate on whether to subpoena documents and witnesses that did not appear during the House’s impeachment inquiry. The late night announcement that Tennessee Republican Sen. Lamar Alexander will vote against additional witnesses Friday signals that there likely won’t be enough votes to continue the trial much longer.
After senators exhausted their cumulative 16 hour question and answer session with House managers and Trump’s lawyers, Alexander, who will retire at the end of his term, announced that on Friday he will vote against hearing from new witnesses.
“It was inappropriate for the president to ask a foreign leader to investigate his political opponent and to withhold United States aid to encourage that investigation. When elected officials inappropriately interfere with such investigations, it undermines the principle of equal justice under the law. But the Constitution does not give the Senate the power to remove the president from office and ban him from this year’s ballot simply for actions that are inappropriate,” Alexander said in a statement.
“The question then is not whether the president did it, but whether the United States Senate or the American people should decide what to do about what he did. I believe that the Constitution provides that the people should make that decision in the presidential election that begins in Iowa on Monday,” Alexander continued.
With all eyes on moderates, Republicans and Democrats who reside in the middle took the chance Thursday to dig into remaining uncertainties they had about the case before the critical vote Friday. Alexander, a retiring moderate and institutionalist, had been mum on the issue until now.


rollcall--2020-01-30--Impeachment trial end in sight, senators fight common cold

Artists Art Lien , left , and William J. Hennessy Jr. sketch scenes from the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump in the Capitol on Thursday .
( Caroline Brehman/CQ Roll Call ) Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell stood up to send a question to President Donald Trump ’ s defense team around 6:45 p.m. Thursday , but first he suggested an upcoming 45-minute break for dinner .
Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. , instead of his usual response of “ without objection , ” changed it to a phrase that resonated with the haggard senators and others in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sure there ’ s no objection , ” Roberts said , causing a murmur of laughter to spread even to the page delivering the paper card with McConnell ’ s question to the rostrum .
It was the ninth day in the chamber for the third presidential impeachment trial in U.S. history , and the 100 senators appeared tired from the two-week grind and eager to move to a section of the trial where they might speak and vote .
As an attorney for the Trump team answered the first question after the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sat empty .
Utah Republican Mike Lee used his index finger to scroll through his Apple Watch .
( The device is technically forbidden in the chamber , but that seems to now only apply to the galleries , not the senators themselves . )
McConnell removed his glasses and rubbed his eyes .
Vermont independent Bernie Sanders removed his glasses as well , and totally covered his face with his hands .
Democratic Sens .
Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island and Martin Heinrich of New Mexico chatted in their back-row desks .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a question to the desk on behalf of Minnesota Democrat Amy Klobuchar , but she was not yet back from dinner .
She emerged from the cloakroom to take her desk midway through the answer , then left the chamber again when it was done .
The senators appeared to be looking for distractions all day .
At one point , Tennessee Republican Lamar Alexander attentively listened as Roberts read a question out loud , but then flipped through a thin book during the responses .
Sen. Charles E. Grassley tackled some housekeeping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the top of the mahogany desk and then getting to work on the drawer .
The Iowa Republican put a notebook and pen on top of his desk and a rogue single binder clip .
He pulled out a large stack of printouts and put them on the empty chair next to him .
He shuffled things around in the drawer , making room to put the big stack of printouts back in .
He used the binder clip on another stack of paper and tucked it away .
Eventually , he set @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sideways on top of the open drawer , the cover sticking up over the top of the desk looking like a laptop .
Finally settled , he read through documents and took some notes .
Republican senators swapped seats Thursday afternoon to confer with colleagues to fine-tune questions they were collaborating on .
Ben Sasse of Nebraska slipped into neighbor Tim Scott ’ s empty seat to chat with Rob Portman of Ohio .
When Scott came in from the cloakroom , he sat in Sasse ’ s seat without a second thought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Louisiana sat in the seat of Michael D. Crapo of Idaho to hash out details with fellow Idahoan Jim Risch , both leaning over a notebook .
When Cassidy stood up , he headed to the GOP cloakroom .
Hawaii Democrat Brian Schatz had a crumpled brown paper bag on his desk , full of what appeared to be cough drops .
He leaned forward over his desk to share a big handful with West Virginia Democrat Joe Manchin III , who received most of them , but some fell to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his desk and then grabbed the casualties off the floor .
The exchange raised the eyebrows of Wisconsin Democrat Tammy Baldwin , who was in the middle of it all , sitting in front of Schatz and next to Manchin .
Baldwin has battled a cough and cold for most of the trial and Manchin shared some of his cough drop bounty with her .
Texas Republican John Cornyn let out a big sneeze in the early hours of the session , using both hands to cover his mouth .
Minnesota Democrat Tina @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the people in the Senate chamber have some version of a cough or cold .
Outside the chamber and in the galleries , there is much talk of the “ Senate plague ” that has afflicted those spending so much time Senate side .
“ It ’ s like a petri dish .
Even Chief Justice Roberts was clearing his throat .
One theory is that we all used the same pen to sign the oath book , and here we are , ” Smith tweeted .
“ Everyone is looking ahead to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ discussions appeared to be starting in earnest Thursday .
At the 3:40 p.m. break , several senators lingered in what amounted to an impromptu bipartisan couples mixer .
Manchin walked over to the GOP side to speak with seated Florida Republican Sen. Marco Rubio .
That conversation ended with Manchin moving down the aisle to encounter Sen. John Thune , R-S.D.
, in some frisky mock-pushing of each other .
Maine Republican Sen. Susan Collins had a lengthy conversation with Washington Democratic Sen. Maria Cantwell , then walked arm-in-arm out of the chamber @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hang out and wait for Lisa Murkowski , R-Alaska , who was wrapping up a lengthy and hand-gesture-heavy discussion with McConnell .
A GOP aide mentioned that the pair were matching .
They laughed and held open their black blazers to show off deep blue/purple dresses .
Cantwell and Murkowski , the leaders of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee , spent the next few minutes talking , backs to the press gallery .
Later still in the break , Manchin poked his head into the GOP cloakroom .
Loud reactions and laughter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with handshakes and pats on the back .
He exited with a can of Pringles , which he seemed pretty happy about , showing them off to GOP staffers in the chamber .
He then made a beeline for his own Democratic cloakroom , where there was no fanfare upon his arrival .
In the afternoon , an audible murmur emanated from both sides of the aisle when the chief justice read aloud Sen. Elizabeth Warren ’ s question asking whether the trial ’ s proceedings reflect poorly on the chief justice himself @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the contents of the card about himself as he read aloud the question from the Massachusetts Democrat .
“ In a time when large majorities of Americans have lost faith in government , does the fact that the chief justice is presiding over an impeachment trial in which Republican senators have thus far refused to allow witnesses and evidence contribute to the loss of legitimacy of the chief justice , the Supreme Court , and the Constitution ?
” Roberts read .
Democratic House manager Adam B. Schiff attempted to quell the tensions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ presided admirably.
” As proceedings got underway , there was a scurry to ditch contraband cell phones .
Cassidy handed his to a page , and Indiana Republican Sen. Todd Young jogged to the cloakroom , phone in hand , to stash his own .
At one point , there was some confusion at the House impeachment managers ’ table when they were asked to respond to a question from Alabama Democrat Doug Jones on the House ’ s subpoena authority .
Schiff and Rep. Zoe Lofgren , both of California , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ question .
After a quick conversation , Schiff headed to the microphone with no notes .
He told senators that the specific list that Jones asked for wasn ’ t immediately available , but they could compile it .
Lofgren jumped up and handed Schiff the list .
On Wednesday night , Lofgren admitted her enthusiasm and confidence in the question-and-answer portion of the trial .
“ I want to stand up and answer all the questions , ” she told senators .
House lawmakers made their way to the Senate after their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Reps. Dean Phillips of Minnesota and Tom Malinowski of New Jersey , both Democratic freshmen , stood by the doors behind the Republican desks before being pointed to the Democratic side of the chamber .
Reps. Chip Roy and Daniel Crenshaw of Texas sat in the back of the Republican side , along with West Virginia ’ s Alex X. Mooney .
Wyoming Republican Sen. John Barrasso handed a folded piece of newspaper to a page , and said a few words to the teen .
The page took the clipping and showed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the chamber , both smiling widely .
The page then tucked it into the inside pocket of his signature navy polyester page blazer .
Was it a new photo with the page in the background ?
A clipping from a hometown paper ?
That secret remains between Barrasso and the page .
Tia Yang , Griffin Connolly , Jacob Metz , Patrick Kelley and Jason Dick contributed to this story .

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell stood up to send a question to President Donald Trump’s defense team around 6:45 p.m. Thursday, but first he suggested an upcoming 45-minute break for dinner.
Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr., instead of his usual response of “without objection,” changed it to a phrase that resonated with the haggard senators and others in the chamber. “I’m sure there’s no objection,” Roberts said, causing a murmur of laughter to spread even to the page delivering the paper card with McConnell’s question to the rostrum.
It was the ninth day in the chamber for the third presidential impeachment trial in U.S. history, and the 100 senators appeared tired from the two-week grind and eager to move to a section of the trial where they might speak and vote.
As an attorney for the Trump team answered the first question after the dinner break, at least 40 desks sat empty. Utah Republican Mike Lee used his index finger to scroll through his Apple Watch. (The device is technically forbidden in the chamber, but that seems to now only apply to the galleries, not the senators themselves.)
McConnell removed his glasses and rubbed his eyes. Vermont independent Bernie Sanders removed his glasses as well, and totally covered his face with his hands.


rollcall--2020-01-30--Wonky Watch: Dershowitz's ‘public interest’ defense

Alan Dershowitz , left , and Rep. Adam Schiff , right , respond to questions from senators Wednesday .
( @ @ @ @ @ line of questioning that senators kept circling back to in Thursday ’ s session of @ @ @ @ @ was an argument made by President Donald Trump 's attorney Alan Dershowitz more than 24 @ @ @ @ @ was answering a question from Sen. Ted Cruz , R-Texas , when he told the @ @ @ @ @ quo , by the president , is not impeachable if the president believes it “ @ @ @ @ @ , in the public interest.
” Shortly after , Rep. Adam B. Schiff , D-Calif. @ @ @ @ @ to respond directly to the preceding arguments .
We 've distilled Dershowitz ’ s argument @ @ @ @ @ to just under seven minutes .

A line of questioning that senators kept circling back to in Thursday’s session of the Senate court of impeachment was an argument made by President Donald Trump's attorney Alan Dershowitz more than 24 hours earlier.
The lawyer was answering a question from Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, when he told the lawmakers-turned-jurors that a quid pro quo, by the president, is not impeachable if the president believes it “will help him get elected, in the public interest.” Shortly after, Rep. Adam B. Schiff, D-Calif., was given the opportunity to respond directly to the preceding arguments.


rollcall--2020-02-03--Impeachment news roundup: Feb. 3

Impeachment news roundup: Feb. 3

Sen. Lindsey Graham , R-S.C. , leaves a Senate Republican caucus meeting to discuss next steps after the Senate voted on Friday to reject witnesses in the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump .
( Caroline Brehman/CQ Roll Call ) President Donald Trump ’ s impeachment trial , almost certainly headed for an acquittal , will play out against the first vote-counting in the Democrat presidential campaign tonight and his State of the Union address on Tuesday .
The Senate will convene at 11 a.m. today for four hours of closing arguments divided evenly between the House impeachment managers and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ court of impeachment will adjourn until 4 p.m. Wednesday when the Senate will vote on the two articles of impeachment .
While the court of impeachment is adjourned Monday afternoon through Wednesday afternoon , the Senate will be in regular session and senators will have the opportunity during that time to deliver floor statements explaining their positions on the two charges against Trump .
Republican senators over the weekend continued to try thread the needle between being critical of the actions that Trump was impeached for and that those actions didn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Here ’ s the latest on impeachment : In the traditional Super Bowl presidential interview , Trump characterized the impeachment inquiry as Speaker Nancy Pelosi ’ s “ worst nightmare.
” “ I don ’ t think she wanted to do this , ” Trump told Fox News ’ Sean Hannity .
“ I think she really knew what was going to happen , and her worst nightmare has happened .
I don ’ t think she ’ s going to be there too long , either .
I think that the radical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of radical left , too , by the way — but I think the radical left is going to take over.
” Trump repeated his claim that Democrats had been intent on impeaching him “ from the day I came down from the escalator , ” referring to the day he announced he was running for president , and said he and his family had “ suffered because of all this .
And many other families suffered also.
” Here is the latest on impeachment : 7 : 30 a.m. | Bolting for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Democratic presidential nomination are expected to be present for the trial today before most of them head to Iowa for caucus results tonight .
Sens .
Bernie Sanders , Elizabeth Warren and Amy Klobuchar will head west while Sen. Michael Bennet will return New Hampshire , which votes next and where he campaigned over the weekend .
Sanders tops most recent polls in Iowa ahead of tightly packed Warren , former Vice President Joe Biden and former South Bend , Indiana , Mayor Pete Buttigieg .
7 a.m. | Tightrope : On @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tried to explain their vote against hearing more witnesses and how they ’ ll vote on Wednesday .
Sen. Lamar Alexander , who is not running for reelection told NBC ’ s “ Meet the Press ” that he hoped Trump would learn from his “ mistake ” he made in pressuring Ukraine to take up investigations of political rivals .
“ Did I need more evidence to conclude the president did what he did ?
I concluded no , ” Alexander said .
Hopefully [ Trump ] will look at this and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a mistake , I shouldn ’ t have done that.
’ ” Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst , who faces a competitive reelection race , said “ Generally speaking , going after corruption would be the right thing to do , he did it maybe in the wrong manner , ” on CNN ’ s “ State of the Union ” She also disputed Trump ’ s often-repeated description of his call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy that was at the heart of the impeachment inquiry .
“ Maybe not the perfect call , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ No comment : House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam B. Schiff , the Democrats ’ lead impeachment manager , wouldn ’ t say whether the House will subpoena former national security adviser John Bolton , who was one of the witnesses Democrats wanted called in the Senate , but he did say “ the truth will come out ” eventually .
“ I don ’ t want to comment to this point on what our plans may or may not be with respect to John Bolton , but I will say this : whether @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before the House — or it ’ s in his book or it ’ s in one form or another , the truth will come out , will continue to come out , ” Schiff told CBS .
6:30 a.m. | Not giving up : Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham , chairman of the Judiciary Committee , said he still wants the Senate to investigate the source of the allegations against Trump .
“ The Senate Intel Committee under Richard Burr has told us that they will call the whistleblower , ” Graham said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ want to understand how all this crap started .
”

Updated 5 p.m.
Both sides in President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial delivered their closing arguments today, with Democrats defending their case — and staff members — while the president’s team repeated their allegations that the impeachment effort is just a bid to undo Trump’s election.
The trial, almost certainly headed for an acquittal, is playing out against the first vote-counting in the Democratic presidential campaign tonight and Trump’s State of the Union address on Tuesday.
The court of impeachment was adjourned after the end of closing statements until 4 p.m. Wednesday when the Senate will vote on the two articles of impeachment.
“I’ve been here a long time. That’s just about the best speech I ever heard,” Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer said of lead House impeachment manager Adam B. Schiff’s closing remarks.


rollcall--2020-02-03--Even after witness vote, Collins remains in a tough spot in Maine

Maine Sen. Susan Collins , left , here with West Virginia Sen. Shelley Moore Capito on Friday , voted to call new witnesses in the Senate impeachment trial of President Donald Trump .
( Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call ) It was already clear she would be on the losing side , but in voting Friday night to support calling new witnesses in President Donald Trump ’ s impeachment trial , Maine Sen. Susan Collins did what she ’ s known for : She bucked her party .
Collins was one of two Republican senators — and the only one up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against her party .
But for a four-term senator facing her toughest reelection , that split from the GOP might not make much of a difference .
On the ultimate vote on whether Trump should be removed from office , expected on Wednesday , most Republicans expect Collins to acquit him , as she did with former President Bill Clinton in 1999 .
As one of just two Republican senators up for reelection this year in a state Hillary Clinton carried in 2016 , Collins is one of the most vulnerable incumbents .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ t changed : She needs to prove she ’ s the independent-minded senator Maine voters previously elected by double-digits , while holding on to a GOP base that is deeply loyal to Trump .
Republicans in Washington are confident that Collins has pulled off that dance , even if Utah ’ s Mitt Romney , the other GOP senator who voted for witnesses , felt some initial heat from activists for his vote when he was disinvited from CPAC , an annual Washington-area conference sponsored by the American Conservative Union .
“ The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — but there is not going to be any — it ’ s all the better .
It doesn ’ t anger the base because she ’ s always got Kavanaugh , ” Republican strategist Steve Gordon said .
“ It ’ s her get-out-of-jail free card.
” Collins ’ 2017 vote to confirm Supreme Court nominee Brett M. Kavanaugh inspired a backlash from Democrats and some independents and GOP moderates , who had urged her to stand up to the president .
But for loyal Republicans , whose support she needs , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remains to be seen , though , whether her vote to allow witnesses win back any of the voters who were so turned off by her votes for Kavanaugh and other GOP priorities .
After the most important vote on whether to allow for any witnesses failed Friday , Democrats tried to offer a different amendment to subpoena four specific people , including former national security adviser John Bolton , and Collins voted with the GOP to table it .
“ This is a lose-lose situation for someone like Sen. Collins , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the man Collins succeeded in the Senate and who has said Trump committed an impeachable offense , told Portland , Maine ’ s NBC affiliate on Thursday .
On the bigger question of removing the president , Republicans say a vote to convict the president would hurt Collins more than it would help her — even if it did win her back some people disaffected by her Kavanaugh vote .
“ It wouldn ’ t help , ” said Garrett Murch , formerly with the Maine GOP .
“ The Republicans in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the president.
” If she bucks the president too much , Collins runs the risk of ending up like former New Hampshire Sen. Kelly Ayotte , whose disavowal of Trump after the “ Access Hollywood ” video likely cost her the support of base GOP voters she needed to win reelection in 2016 .
Collins also came out against Trump before the 2016 election .
She voted against the GOP health care overhaul and backed a resolution to block Trump ’ s declaration that an emergency at the Southern border meant he could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accounts .
To her defenders , that willingness to make both sides angry speaks to the principled nature of her votes rather than any political calculation .
“ As an independent-minded centrist , Senator Collins is often targeted by people on the far left and the far right , but she can not be pressured or intimidated into making a decision .
Mainers appreciate this thoughtful approach , ” campaign spokesman Kevin Kelley said in a statement Saturday .
One of the most vulnerable Collins ’ standing in Maine has fallen over the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exists of the state .
She had a 52 percent disapproval rating in a recent Morning Consult survey — a 4-point drop in her net approval rating since the third quarter of 2019 .
The message coming from both national and Maine Democrats isn ’ t about impeachment or Kavanaugh specifically ; it ’ s that Collins has changed and is no longer the senator she once was .
Outside groups have been hitting her on prescription drug pricing , and a Maine-based issue advocacy group called the 16 Counties Coalition is launching @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hits Collins for voting for the GOP tax overhaul in 2017 .
“ The tax bill that Susan Collins voted for is making life harder for people in Maine , ” one woman says in the spot .
To the extent Democrats make impeachment a part of their messaging , they ’ re pointing to Collins ’ vote for witnesses — especially the fact that it came after it was clear the witnesses motion would be rejected — to argue she ’ s an over-calculating politician putting herself before her constituents .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she waited until [ Mitch ] McConnell had secured the votes he needed to block witnesses !
” Democratic state House Speaker Sara Gideon , one of Collins ’ Democratic challengers , wrote in a fundraising email after the vote Friday night .
( Gideon backed opening an impeachment inquiry and has called for Collins to support a “ fair trial ” but has not said publicly where she stands on removing the president . )
Collins had long said that she ’ d support calling witnesses after hearing arguments , as she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But Democrats had been pushing her to support establishing witness testimony at the start of the trial , and national Democrats have accused her of being less outspoken about wanting to see more evidence than she was in 1999 , underscoring their overall message that Collins is not the senator Mainers previously elected .
In an ad launched before the vote , Senate Majority PAC , the super PAC allied with Senate Democratic leadership , accused Collins of looking out for herself , “ not us , ” on attempts to include @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Mainers wanted the Senate to “ insist ” on seeing fresh evidence and hearing from witnesses , according to a poll conducted for SMP last month .
A majority of likely voters thought Trump “ abused ” the power of his office .
Still , the majority of paid messaging against Collins is about kitchen table issues and accountability .
Republicans agree that impeachment isn ’ t what voters want to hear about .
Nearly 60 percent of Maine voters in a National Republican Senatorial Committee survey from January said “ Congress @ @ @ @ @ @ @ impeachment , ” according to an NRSC memo released last week .
Regardless of how she plays impeachment , Collins is already facing what ’ s likely to be one of the most expensive Senate races in the country .
Her vote for Kavanaugh has energized progressives and moderate voters , who have raised nearly $ 4 million for her eventual Democratic challenger .
Gideon , who ’ s running with the support of the DSCC and EMILY ’ s List , has outraised Collins two quarters in a row .
She raked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 2.3 million in the final quarter of 2019 .
Collins ended 2019 with $ 7.2 million in the bank , while Gideon had less than $ 2.8 million .
Republicans maintain that Collins ’ long track record in the state will serve her well against Gideon , a Rhode Island native who lives in the more liberal 1st District .
“ Democrats will be able to cut into her margin of victory , but she ’ ll get at least 52-48 percent , ” Murch said .
Although Trump lost Maine by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ overwhelmingly carried the northern 2nd District , where Collins is from .
His victory in the 2nd earned him an additional electoral vote , and he ’ ll be making a play for the district again this year .
Rep. Jared Golden , a Marine veteran who flipped the district from red to blue in 2018 , was one of the few House Democrats who didn ’ t back both articles of impeachment against Trump last year .
He was the only House Democrat to split his vote , supporting the first article @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the second ( obstruction of Congress ) .
Maine Republicans don ’ t believe that Golden ’ s ability to win the 2nd District means Gideon can too .
Golden , a former Collins committee staffer , is staying neutral in the Senate race .
But some Democrats believe Gideon doesn ’ t have to persuade many voters in the 2nd District , which is shrinking in population .
She might be able to win the state by running up the score in the growing 1st District , according to a longtime Democratic @ @ @ @ @

It was already clear she would be on the losing side, but in voting Friday night to support calling new witnesses in President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial, Maine Sen. Susan Collins did what she’s known for: She bucked her party.
Collins was one of two Republican senators — and the only one up for reelection this fall — to vote against her party.
But for a four-term senator facing her toughest reelection, that split from the GOP might not make much of a difference. On the ultimate vote on whether Trump should be removed from office, expected on Wednesday, most Republicans expect Collins to acquit him, as she did with former President Bill Clinton in 1999.
As one of just two Republican senators up for reelection this year in a state Hillary Clinton carried in 2016, Collins is one of the most vulnerable incumbents. And her challenge this year hasn’t changed: She needs to prove she’s the independent-minded senator Maine voters previously elected by double digits, while holding on to a GOP base that is deeply loyal to Trump.
Republicans in Washington are confident that Collins has pulled off that dance, even if Utah’s Mitt Romney, the other GOP senator who voted for witnesses, felt some initial heat from activists for his vote when he was disinvited from CPAC, an annual Washington-area conference sponsored by the American Conservative Union.


rollcall--2020-02-03--Iowa congressional campaigns try to tap presidential energy

Theresa Greenfield ’ s Senate campaign is launching a digital ad targeting Democratic Iowa caucus-goers and deploying volunteers to gather petition signatures for her bid to challenge Republican incumbent Joni Ernst .
( Caroline Brehman/CQ Roll Call file photo ) Democrats scrolling through their social media feeds at Monday night ’ s Iowa caucuses may encounter an ad for “ Caucus Trivia Night , ” a game where they can answer trivia questions via text message .
But the game wasn ’ t devised by a presidential candidate hoping to make a last-minute voter connection .
It was the work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign .
She won ’ t be on the ballot until the state ’ s primary in June , but Greenfield ’ s team knows that a crowded Democratic presidential field could mean a record number of Iowans at caucuses , and that ’ s a prime opportunity to get petition signatures and campaign volunteers .
And even though there is no contest on the Republican side , President Donald Trump is also encouraging his supporters to attend caucuses as a show of strength .
So while the presidential campaign will dominate the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just one example of how congressional campaigns , in both parties , will also use the caucuses to connect with their party ’ s faithful .
“ Every viable congressional candidate is going to have some trace of them at these caucuses , whether it be materials , themselves , a surrogate , a place for [ volunteers ] to sign up , ” Iowa GOP chairman Jeff Kaufmann said .
Congressional campaigns are also hoping to remind caucus-goers that the battle for control of the House and Senate will go through Iowa @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is facing a competitive reelection , and all four House seats could be in play .
Those races have so far been overshadowed by presidential candidates who have crisscrossed the state and blanketed the airwaves with ads .
But politicos in both parties said Iowans are well-aware of down-ballot races , and anyone who expects them to be done with politics after Monday does not know the state .
“ This is Iowa , ” said Democratic Rep. Abby Finkenauer , who represents the state ’ s 1st District .
“ That does @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that sentiment of just being tired of it.
” House and Senate campaigns will mostly use Monday ’ s caucuses to gather the signatures necessary to qualify for the ballot .
Senate candidates need to gather more than 3,000 signatures , while House hopefuls need between 1,200 and 1,800 , depending on the party and the district .
They also need signatures from a variety of counties to qualify for the ballot , so having voters gathered in one place Monday gives campaigns a chance to reach those thresholds in one night .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ for precinct captains with down-ballot candidates ’ petitions .
Retired Navy Vice Adm. Mike Franken , who is vying against Greenfield and others for the Senate nomination to challenge Ernst , had 10,575 petitions printed for those packets , campaign manager Kimberley Boggus said .
Franken ’ s supporters will also be at caucuses in each of Iowa ’ s 99 counties , donning T-shirts from the Iowa-based store RAYGUN that say “ Iowa ’ s admiral.
” Greenfield ’ s campaign recruited nearly 130 volunteers to collect additional signatures at the caucuses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Senate race .
Eddie Mauro , another Senate candidate , will be traveling to various caucus locations to speak with voters , and his campaign is reaching out to supporters who could speak on his behalf .
Finkenauer , who has been campaigning in the state for former Vice President Joe Biden , said some her campaign ’ s own precinct captains will be out on caucus night gathering petition signatures for her reelection .
Finkenauer and 3rd District Rep. Cindy Axne , a fellow freshman Democrat , Cindy Axne , are top @ @ @ @ @ @ @ carried in 2016 .
Axne , who also endorsed Biden , will be speaking at her own caucus location , according to a source familiar with her campaign .
She likely faces a rematch this November with former Rep. David Young , whom she unseated in 2018 .
Young ’ s campaign is organizing supporters to read a letter from Young at each of the 3rd District ’ s caucus locations .
“ Much has changed since November of 2018 where we suffered losses in Iowa and nationally , ” Young writes in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ obtained by CQ Roll Call .
“ We know 2020 is different already .
And we can ’ t take anything for granted.
” Young is among the slew of Republicans who will be speaking in support of Trump at Monday ’ s caucuses , according to his campaign .
Young was not on the original lengthy list of surrogates circulated by the Trump campaign .
Trump ’ s team did not respond to a request for comment .
Trump has been encouraging his supporters to make a strong showing on Monday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , isn ’ t expecting a high turnout , estimating it will be in the thousands instead of tens of thousands .
In 2016 , the crowded field was on the Republican side , and about 187,000 Iowans voted in the party ’ s caucuses , with Texas Sen. Ted Cruz narrowly defeating Trump .
Nevertheless , the GOP caucuses this year could benefit the party and down-ballot candidates by connecting them with dedicated volunteers .
“ Those are the hard-core folks , ” Kaufmann said .
“ We ’ re asking them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they already know who ’ s going to win .
… These are the people that are going to go out and actually work.
” By connecting with dedicated voters , both parties are looking to reap benefits that extend beyond caucus night .
Kaufmann said the caucuses are a “ dry run ” for the general election since it ’ s an opportunity for the Trump campaign , the national and state parties , and down-ballot campaigns , including Ernst ’ s team , to test their coordination .
Ernst ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ caucuses , and its volunteers will making targeted phone calls to boost caucus turnout .
Democrats don ’ t benefit from the same unified effort with their presidential and Senate primaries still in flux , but party organizations are engaged .
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has three organizers on the ground in Iowa , and voter information collected by the Iowa Democratic Party on caucus night can be used by candidates up and down the ballot .
“ One of my volunteers , he said , ‘ This is just our warmup @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ’ ” Finkenauer said .
But others noted that congressional races have been overshadowed by the presidential primary .
Axne said it ’ s time to shift Iowans ’ attention .
“ I love having Iowa first in the nation , but it is time that they leave , ” she said of the presidential candidates .
“ We need to be focused on other races.
” But for months , Iowa Democrats , particularly passionate activists and campaign volunteers , have been divided by the presidential contest .
Finkenauer was confident @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to support down-ballot campaigns like her own .
“ There ’ s so much we have to keep fighting for here in Iowa , ” she said .
“ It doesn ’ t matter who you support for president .
It ’ s about our values here in Iowa that are on the line .
”

Axne, who also endorsed Biden, will be speaking at her own caucus location, according to a source familiar with her campaign. She likely faces a rematch this November with former Rep. David Young, whom she unseated in 2018. Young’s campaign is organizing supporters to read a letter from Young at each of the 3rd District’s caucus locations.
“Much has changed since November of 2018 where we suffered losses in Iowa and nationally,” Young writes in the letter, according to a copy obtained by CQ Roll Call. “We know 2020 is different already. And we can’t take anything for granted.”
Young is among the slew of Republicans who will be speaking in support of Trump at Monday’s caucuses, according to his campaign. Young was not on the original lengthy list of surrogates circulated by the Trump campaign. Trump’s team did not respond to a request for comment.
Trump has been encouraging his supporters to make a strong showing on Monday, but Kaufmann, the state GOP chairman, isn’t expecting a high turnout, estimating it will be in the thousands instead of tens of thousands. In 2016, the crowded field was on the Republican side, and about 187,000 Iowans voted in the party’s caucuses, with Texas Sen. Ted Cruz narrowly defeating Trump. Nevertheless, the GOP caucuses this year could benefit the party and down-ballot candidates by connecting them with dedicated volunteers.
“Those are the hard-core folks,” Kaufmann said. “We’re asking them to show up at a caucus when they already know who’s going to win. … These are the people that are going to go out and actually work.”


rollcall--2020-02-02--Dollar dominance: Average vulnerable House Democrat starts 2020 with $1.8 million

New York Rep. Max Rose , left , and Michigan Rep. Elissa Slotkin raised the most among vulnerable House Democrats in the latest fundraising quarter .
( Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call file photo ) Nine months out from Election Day , the latest fundraising reports provide new clues about both parties ’ prospects in the battles for the House and Senate .
In the fight for the House , vulnerable Democrats continued to raise eye-popping numbers as their party tries to hold on to its majority .
Republican leaders last week sounded the alarm about their candidates ’ fundraising , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The reports , which were due at midnight Friday , cover Oct. 1 through Dec. 31 .
That would include fundraising around the House ’ s Dec. 18 vote to impeach President Donald Trump .
But it appears the immediate impact of impeachment on individual House lawmakers ’ numbers was limited .
The average amount raised by a vulnerable House Democrat during the fourth quarter was $ 157,000 higher than the third-quarter average .
The average vulnerable Republican also saw an increase , but it was only $ 33,000 .
Senate races continued @ @ @ @ @ @ @ although a few incumbents in some of the most competitive contests continued to be outraised by their challengers .
This analysis focused on incumbents and challengers in races that Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales rates as competitive , and excluded candidates who raised less than $ 5,000 or who had not filed fourth quarter reports .
Here are six takeaways from the latest reports : House Democrats in competitive races continued their dominant fundraising , with incumbents raising an average of $ 679,000 — almost $ 7,500 per day — in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrats in competitive races raised more than half a million .
On average , these Democrats had nearly $ 1.8 million in their campaign accounts at the end of the year , and 32 of the 39 had more than $ 1 million on hand .
Michigan Rep. Elissa Slotkin topped the list of vulnerable House Democrats , raising nearly $ 1.3 million .
Slotkin is one of 30 Democrats in districts Trump won , and she took a high-profile role in the impeachment process .
New York Rep. Max Rose was No @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than Slotkin , or $ 1.2 million for the quarter .
Democrats head into 2020 with a stark financial advantage over their Republican challengers .
On average , House GOP challengers raised $ 151,000 in the final quarter of 2019 .
The top fundraiser who did not contribute any of his or her own money to the race was former California Rep. David Valadao , who raised $ 632,000 .
Valadao is seeking a rematch against Democratic Rep. TJ Cox in the 21st District .
Valadao was one of three GOP challengers who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their campaign accounts on Dec. 31 .
The others were Michelle Steel , who is challenging California Rep. Harley Rouda ; and Jim Oberweiss , who is running against Illinois Rep. Lauren Underwood .
Both Steel and Oberweiss have spent a significant amount of their own money on their campaigns .
On average , House Republican incumbents in tough races raised $ 420,000 in the fourth quarter .
The top fundraiser by far was Texas Rep. Daniel Crenshaw , who is considered a rising GOP star and has a national profile from his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just two of the 23 vulnerable House Republicans raised more than $ 500,000 : New York Rep. Lee Zeldin , a stanch Trump ally , and Pennsylvania Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick , one of two Republicans running for reelection in districts Hillary Clinton carried in 2016 .
These Republicans still appear to have a financial advantage over their Democratic challengers , who raised an average of $ 173,000 .
House GOP incumbents had an average of $ 999,000 banked at the end of 2019 , while Democratic challengers had an average of $ 231,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over $ 1 million in their accounts on Dec. 31 : Wendy Davis , who ran unsuccessfully for governor in Texas in 2014 and is challenging Texas Rep. Chip Roy ; and Betsy Dirksen Londrigan , who is seeking a rematch against Illinois Rep. Rodney Davis .
3 .
Some incumbents could be nervous If a challenger outraises an incumbent , that could be a sign of trouble for the sitting lawmaker .
In the fourth quarter , four House Democrats and six House Republicans were outraised by their potential opponents .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as well as three Californians : Cox , Rouda and Gil Cisneros .
Steel , Rouda ’ s potential opponent , donated $ 202,000 of her own money to her campaign , which allowed her to surpass Rouda .
Cox and Cisneros also ended the quarter with less cash on hand than their opponents .
Cisneros ’ likely opponent is former Assemblywoman Young Kim , who lost to him by 2 points in 2018 .
The six Republicans who were outraised by their Democratic challengers included Roy , Davis , David Schweikert @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Ann Wagner of Missouri and Jaime Herrera Beutler of Washington , whose opponent , Carolyn Long , outraised her by $ 2,000 .
Hagedorn told CQ Roll Call last week he was on pace for his goal “ to run a full campaign and get reelected.
” Schweikert , Davis and Roy ’ s potential opponents also ended the quarter with more cash in the bank .
Democrat Hiral Tiperneni had more than three times as much on hand than Schweikert , with $ 912,000 on Dec. 31 .
Tiperneni twice ran @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Congressional primaries kick off in March , and some incumbents in those early races are facing well-funded primary challengers .
In Texas , Democrat Henry Cuellar was outraised by his primary opponent , Jessica Cisneros , who has the backing of EMILY ’ s List and high-profile figures including New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Sens .
Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Bernie Sanders of Vermont .
Cuellar still had a sizable cash on hand advantage , with $ 2.9 million in the bank compared to Cisneros ’ $ 615,000 .
Elsewhere @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rep. Kay Granger is facing former Colleyville City Councilmember Chris Putnam .
Granger stepped up her efforts in the fourth quarter , raising $ 419,000 to Putnam ’ s $ 80,000 , and she has a cash-on-hand advantage .
But outside groups have jumped into the race , with the Club for Growth backing Putnam .
The Congressional Leadership Fund launched a radio ad last week to support Granger in the race .
In Illinois , Rep. Daniel Lipinski is facing another challenge from fellow Democrat Marie Newman , who nearly defeated him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ close to matching Lipinski in fundraising , but the incumbent maintained his cash-on-hand edge .
Some of the most vulnerable senators continued to be outraised by their challengers .
Arizona GOP Sen. Martha McSally trailed Democrat Mark Kelly for the fourth quarter in a row , and Kelly also had more money in the bank — $ 13.6 million compared to McSally ’ s $ 7.6 million .
Republican Sens .
Cory Gardner of Colorado and Susan Collins of Maine were also outraised by Democratic challengers John Hickenlooper and Sara Gideon , respectively @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was once again outraised by Republican John James .
But all three senators still had more money in their campaign accounts than their challengers on Dec. 31 .
Senate fundraising was not as lopsided as the House .
On average , the eight GOP incumbents in competitive races raised $ 2.7 million in the fourth quarter , while the three Democratic incumbents raised an average of $ 2.2 million .
GOP challengers raised an average of $ 499,000 in the fourth quarter , while Democratic challengers raised an average of $ 724,000 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ money on their campaigns .
Newly appointed Georgia GOP Sen. Kelly Loeffler loaned a whopping $ 5 million to her campaign .
Democrat Eddie Mauro , who is one of the Democrats challenging Iowa GOP Sen. Joni Ernst , continued to self-fund his Senate bid , loaning $ 1.5 million to his campaign .
In the House , Democrat Sri Preston Kulkarni topped self-funders with a $ 1 million donation to his second campaign for Texas ’ 22nd District .
Kulkarni is part of a crowded field of candidates running in the open-seat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Olson .
Herb Jackson and George LeVines contributed to this report .

Corrected, Feb. 27, 3:35 p.m. | Nine months out from Election Day, the latest fundraising reports provide new clues about both parties’ prospects in the battles for the House and Senate.
In the fight for the House, vulnerable Democrats continued to raise eye-popping numbers as their party tries to hold on to its majority. Republican leaders last week sounded the alarm about their candidates’ fundraising, and the latest reports show why.
The reports, which were due at midnight Friday, cover Oct. 1 through Dec. 31. That would include fundraising around the House’s Dec. 18 vote to impeach President Donald Trump. But it appears the immediate impact of impeachment on individual House lawmakers’ numbers was limited. The average amount raised by a vulnerable House Democrat during the fourth quarter was $157,000 higher than the third-quarter average. The average vulnerable Republican also saw an increase, but it was only $33,000.
Senate races continued to attract donors’ attention too, although a few incumbents in some of the most competitive contests continued to be outraised by their challengers.
This analysis focused on incumbents and challengers in races that Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales rates as competitive, and excluded candidates who raised less than $5,000 or who had not filed fourth quarter reports.


rollcall--2020-02-01--Senate says no to witnesses, as final vote is set for Wednesday

A staffer carries multiple binders through the Senate Reception Room before the continuation of the impeachment trial of President Donald @ @ @ @ @ Roll Call ) The Senate rejected , 49-51 , a bid by Democrats on Jan. @ @ @ @ @ President Trump 's impeachment trial and will now move to closing arguments and votes on @ @ @ @ @ articles of impeachment , accusing Trump of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress .
@ @ @ @ @ reporter Niels Lesniewski explains why Republicans objected to witnesses and why they will vote to @ @ @ @ @ GOP , impeachment impedes legislative agenda — that may not exist Get breaking news alerts @ @ @ @ @ on your iPhone .

The Senate voted 51-49 on Jan. 31 against calling witnesses in President Trump’s impeachment trial and will now move to closing arguments and votes, on Feb. 5, on the two articles of impeachment, accusing Trump of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. CQ Roll Call White House reporter Niels Lesniewski explains why Republicans objected to witnesses and why they will vote to acquit.
Show Notes:


rollcall--2020-01-31--View from the gallery: Restless senators eager to flee impeachment court for weekend

From left , Sen. Lisa Murkowski , R-Alaska , Sen. David Perdue , R-Ga. , Sen. Cory Gardner , R-Colo. , and Sen. Shelley Moore Capito , R-W.Va. , leave the Senate Republicans ’ caucus meeting in the Capitol during a recess in the Senate impeachment trial proceedings on Friday evening .
( Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call ) Arkansas Republican Tom Cotton accidentally voted the wrong way on a procedural vote late Friday during President Donald Trump ’ s impeachment trial , so when he got the next vote right he turned to his colleagues and took a dramatic bow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ queue to vote twice because he was chatting with Texas Republican Ted Cruz , who offered to take the blame .
By the final vote Friday night , senators grew rowdy , laughing and talking with one another before the roll call was finished .
Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. slammed the gavel and called for order for the first time in the trial , which silenced lawmakers .
It was the 10th day in the chamber for the third presidential impeachment trial in U.S. history , and the 100 senators appeared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way to a conclusion .
The sides had just come back from a break and agreed on procedures to allow quick votes , a free Saturday and a final vote Wednesday .
On one side of the chamber , Democrats Cory Booker of New Jersey and Kamala Harris of California shared a laugh .
On the other side , Republicans Martha McSally of Arizona , Joni Ernst of Iowa and Kevin Cramer of North Dakota chatted and laughed .
Whatever Jerry Moran of Kansas said to Richard M. Burr of North Carolina left @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Roberts was wearing a large back brace Friday , wrapped and fastened over his dress shirt , but under his suit jacket .
He ’ s not the only lawmaker feeling the impact of entire days confined to chairs that are more decorative than ergonomic .
A few other lawmakers have been spotted with lumbar support cushions or rolling up a shawl or blanket for some back support .
Earlier in the day , most senators paid attention and took notes during the closing arguments presented by House impeachment managers , despite the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had announced how they would vote on calling witnesses or on acquittal .
Republicans Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska appeared to pay attention and take regular notes during the arguments from lead House manager Rep. Adam B. Schiff , D-Calif. South Carolina Republican Lindsey Graham missed at least the first hour of action Friday .
More than a dozen Republicans left the chamber for a significant portion of the closing arguments presented by House impeachment managers .
Graham and Cruz returned for the end of Schiff 's arguments .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Minnesota , 2020 Democratic presidential contenders , were frequent visitors of their cloakroom throughout arguments .
Several Republicans invaded the Democratic cloakroom during the day .
At one point , Klobuchar opened the Democratic cloakroom ’ s door to leave , but she immediately ran into Missouri Republican Roy Blunt who was seeking to enter the rival party ’ s safe haven .
Klobuchar decided to chat with him in her cloakroom instead of returning to her desk .
Throughout the afternoon , Blunt became a Democrat whisperer , chatting during the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Island , Chris Coons of Delaware , Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut and Sanders , an independent .
Nebraska Republican Ben Sasse and Cruz also entered the Democrats ’ cloakroom .
Later in the afternoon , a 20-minute quorum call ended up lasting around an hour — and turned into something of a bipartisan happy hour .
Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer of New York chatted for several minutes .
Majority Whip John Thune of South Dakota and former whip John Cornyn of Texas joined the conversation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was said between McConnell and Schumer .
The current and erstwhile whips huddled with GOP senators throughout the lengthy quorum call , likely relaying McConnell ’ s plans .
At one point , Thune called over McConnell ’ s aide Laura Dove to address Republicans Jim Risch of Idaho , John Hoeven of North Dakota , Dan Sullivan of Alaska and Cory Gardner of Colorado .
Arizona Democrat Kyrsten Sinema seemed as comfortable on the Republican side of the chamber .
Sinema walked to the opposite side of the chamber where she talked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ minutes before approaching the area of the floor where GOP leadership sits , chatting up Thune and Cornyn .
Senators from the same states used the break to catch up as Sullivan greeted Murkowski and Alabama Democrat Doug Jones made his way to Alabama Republican Richard C. Shelby ’ s desk .
During the quorum call , the front row of the gallery — where Connie Schultz , a Pulitzer Prize-winning writer and wife of Ohio Democrat Sherrod Brown , was sitting — became populated with a trio of senators .
Brown sat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ minutes , at times her hand gently resting on his shoulder .
Michael Bennet came up next , where he greeted Brown and gave Schultz a hug .
The Colorado Democrat proceeded to shake the hand of a priest sitting behind him , sat down and spoke with those sitting in the second row .
Thom Tillis , a North Carolina Republican , became the final senator to join , sharing a conversation with someone seated to his left .
Brown and Bennet egressed in tandem .
Tillis returned to the floor minutes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his phone openly on his desk at the start of Friday ’ s arguments , laying screen-side up on top of a white legal pad on the right-hand side of his desk .
On the other side , Cassidy scrawled something on a yellow sticky note , affixed it to his lower lip , and then reached into his briefcase for a different notebook and marked a page .
While Rep. Sylvia R. Garcia of Texas advocated for witnesses , Republican David Perdue of Georgia and Cassidy spoke loudly in the back row @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Their chatter was audible to reporters on the balcony , but the topic was not discernible .
Drew Hammill , communications director for Speaker Nancy Pelosi made an appearance , sitting in the back row of the visitors ’ gallery .
He yawned and wiped his face with his hands at one point .
Cassidy rolled his chair backward away from his desk , gripping the armrests as he scooted past his neighbor Perdue and finally saddled up at the desk of Cruz .
The two had a close whispered conversation before he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
New York Democrat Kirsten Gillibrand munched on an apple in the cloakroom just a moment into a break .
Wisconsin Republican Ron Johnson is not a chocolate fiend like many of his colleagues , but has instead regularly reached for what look like small packages of Sour Patch Kids or other fruity gummies .
Booker is back on his page game .
The New Jersey Democrat is known for being friendly with the teenage helpers , chatting with them , taking selfies and making them laugh .
Booker took time during a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Democratic pages , asking them questions and roping in colleagues to also introduce themselves and join the conversation .
He pulled Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto , a doorkeeper and a Capitol Police officer over to have a laugh with the teens .
Booker gave one page a big hug .
Michael Macagnone and Chris Marquette contributed to this report .

Arkansas Republican Tom Cotton accidentally voted the wrong way on a procedural vote late Friday during President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial, so when he got the next vote right he turned to his colleagues and took a dramatic bow.
Georgia Republican David Perdue missed his queue to vote twice because he was chatting with Texas Republican Ted Cruz, who offered to take the blame.
By the final vote Friday night, senators grew rowdy, laughing and talking with one another before the roll call was finished. Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. slammed the gavel and called for order for the first time in the trial, which silenced lawmakers.
It was the 10th day in the chamber for the third presidential impeachment trial in U.S. history, and the 100 senators appeared relieved that the trial was on its way to a conclusion.
The sides had just come back from a break and agreed on procedures to allow quick votes, a free Saturday and a final vote Wednesday.


rollcall--2020-01-31--Senate plans Wednesday vote to acquit Trump

Reporters watch the Senate impeachment trial of President Donald Trump in the Senate Press Gallery in the Capitol on Friday .
( Caroline Brehman/CQ Roll Call ) Updated 8 p.m. | The Senate is now expected to vote to acquit President Donald Trump on Wednesday , one day after the president delivers his State of the Union address to Congress .
After rejecting a move Friday night that would have allowed motions to introduce witnesses and documents to the impeachment proceeding , the two parties huddled to discuss next steps , eventually deciding on a second organizing resolution for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
That agreement also provided for four amendments from Democrats , which were n't debated .
Despite the organizing resolution being drafted in agreement with Democrats , the 53-47 vote was a strict party-line vote and came after Republicans blocked the minority ’ s four amendments that served as a last-ditch effort to hear from witnesses .
Prior to the votes , Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. , said that he would not partake in breaking ties.
“ I think it would be inappropriate for me , an unelected official from a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ power to change that result so that the motion would succeed , ” Roberts said .
The overall resolution closes the record in the impeachment trial and provides for the Senate to reconvene as the court of impeachment at 11 a.m. Monday for four hours of closing arguments , equally divided between the House managers and the president ’ s counsel .
After conclusion of those arguments , the court of impeachment will adjourn until 4 p.m. Wednesday .
At that time , the Senate will vote on the two articles of impeachment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ While the court of impeachment is adjourned Monday afternoon through Wednesday afternoon , the Senate will be in regular session .
Senators will have the opportunity during that time to deliver floor statements explaining their positions on the two charges against Trump .
Eric Ueland , the White House legislative affairs director , said the president was fine with that timeline .
“ The president is gratified that finally , at long last , after multiple Senate sessions [ that ] his acquittal is possible , ” Ueland said .
“ We do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ability to deliver a strong and confident State of the Union next week.
” “ I 'm not sure why Wednesday is better than Tuesday other than that ’ s State of the Union , ” Sen. Tim Scott , R-S.C. , said .
“ Obviously , that ’ s the only logical explanation.
” The White House had initially hoped for an acquittal before Trump travels to Capitol Hill for his televised address .
Asked if he ’ s satisfied with voting Wednesday , Republican Sen. Roy Blunt of Missouri said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it right away.
” The new schedule allows Democratic presidential contenders — Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota , Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts , Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Michael Bennet of Colorado — to spend the weekend campaigning , in advance of Monday ’ s Iowa caucuses .
Before adopting the second organizing resolution , the Senate rejected four Democratic amendments .
On the first of those amendments , the Senate voted , 53-47 , to table an amendment by Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer to subpoena former national security adviser John Bolton ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mulvaney ; Robert Blair , a senior adviser to Mulvaney ; and Michael Duffey , a senior Office of Management and Budget official .
The amendment also would have subpoenaed documents from the White House , OMB and the State and Defense departments related to Trump ’ s decision to withhold military aid to Ukraine , an action that is at the heart of the abuse of power charge .
A Schumer amendment to just subpoena Bolton was also tabled , 51-49 .
Republican Sens .
Susan Collins of Maine and Mitt Romney @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to hear Bolton ’ s testimony , voted with Democrats against tabling the amendment .
A third Schumer amendment to subpoena Bolton provided for a short process under which his testimony could be taken : one day for a deposition and one day for live testimony before the Senate to occur within five days of adopting the organizing resolution .
The amendment was tabled , 51-49 , with Collins and Romney again joining Democrats in voting against tabling .
Democrats ’ fourth and final amendment , offered by Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to rule on motions to subpoena witnesses and documents and any assertions of privilege stemming from those subpoenas .
The amendment was tabled , 53-47 , along party lines .
Michael Macagnone and Niels Lesniewski contributed to this report.Correction : An earlier version of this story misstated when the Senate would go into regular session .

Updated 8 p.m. | The Senate is now expected to vote to acquit President Donald Trump on Wednesday, one day after the president delivers his State of the Union address to Congress.
After rejecting a move Friday night that would have allowed motions to introduce witnesses and documents to the impeachment proceeding, the two parties huddled to discuss next steps, eventually deciding on a second organizing resolution for the trial that takes it to a conclusion.
That agreement also provided for four amendments from Democrats, which weren’t debated.
Despite the organizing resolution being drafted in agreement with Democrats, the 53-47 vote was a strict party-line vote and came after Republicans blocked the minority’s four amendments that served as a last-ditch effort to hear from witnesses.
Prior to the votes, Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr., said that he would not partake in breaking ties.“I think it would be inappropriate for me, an unelected official from a different branch of government to assert the power to change that result so that the motion would succeed,” Roberts said.