It turns out that the GOP just might get their wish. Ultimately, Democrats have not persuaded enough conservative senators of the necessity of allowing additional witnesses to testify. When Senate Republicans gathered with one another for lunch today, they didn’t discuss the prospect of calling forth any further witnesses.
On Wednesday, GOP Sen. Mike Braun provided insight regarding the overall mindset of Republicans in the Senate.
In Braun’s own words:
“If I had to guess, no witnesses. We’ll be in a place where I think everyone is going to have their mind made up. I believe that we’ll be able to move to a verdict, and the witness question will be clear at that point.”
Despite the leaked manuscripts from Bolton’s book, GOP senators remain firmly committed to moving forward.
What Happens Now?
On Friday, the Senate is expected to hold a vote on concluding the impeachment trial. The overall consensus in the upper body remains as it was when the trial began. Republicans maintain that Trump is innocent and that impeachment lacks merit; meanwhile, Democrats are insistent otherwise and critical of Republicans who will not vote to remove Trump from office.
