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GOP develops aggressive 'Plan B' on witnesses in impeachment trial, as several Dems appear to support acquittal: source
With several Democrats openly floating the possibility they might vote to acquit President Trump, congressional Republicans are planning an aggressive "Plan B" strategy in the event some Republicans break off and demand additional witnesses in the president's impeachment trial, Fox News has learned.
With several Democrats openly floating the possibility they might vote to acquit President Trump, congressional Republicans are planning an aggressive "Plan B" strategy in the event some Republicans break off and demand additional witnesses in the president's impeachment trial, Fox News has learned.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., privately said earlier Tuesday that he wasn't sure there were enough Republican votes to block more witnesses, given that some moderates in the GOP's 53-47 Senate majority were wavering. Any witness resolution would likely require four Republican defections in the Senate, because in the event of a 50-50 tie, Chief Justice of the United States John Roberts is highly likely to abstain rather than assert his debatable power to cast a tie-breaking vote.
Late Tuesday night, a Senate leadership source told Fox News that Republicans were specifically assessing the viability of two alternative options.
One plan is to amend any resolution calling for a particular witness to also include a package of witnesses that assuredly wouldn't win enough support in the Senate. For example, if the Democrats seek to call former National Security Advisor John Bolton, Republicans might seek to question Hunter Biden over his lucrative board position in Ukraine, and Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., over his inconsistent statements concerning his panel's contacts with the whistleblower at the center of the impeachment probe.
Another option, the congressional leadership source told Fox News, is for the White House to assert executive privilege to block witnesses, including Bolton. The administration could head to court to obtain an emergency injunction against his testimony, citing national security concerns. Click here for more on our top story.
Other developments in Trump's Senate impeachment trial:
- Feinstein stirs confusion with comments on impeachment vote
- Trump lawyer calls Bolton book 'inadmissible,' as defense team wraps impeachment arguments
- Trump, at packed New Jersey rally, hits congressional Dems
- Lev Parnas' plan to show up prompts even more confusion
- Feinstein stirs confusion with comments on impeachment vote
- Trump lawyer calls Bolton book 'inadmissible,' as defense team wraps impeachment arguments
- Trump, at packed New Jersey rally, hits congressional Dems
- Lev Parnas' plan to show up prompts even more confusion
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