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Nearly every Senate Republican declared on Tuesday that putting a former president on trial for impeachment was unconstitutional. This indicated the conviction Democrats were hoping for, would most likely be 'dead on arrival'.

On Wednesday, Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) told reporters that she and Senator Tim Kaine  (D-VA) are proposing a censure resolution as an alternative to the upcoming impeachment trial to rebuke former President Donald Trump.

This censure resolution would be “in lieu” of holding the trial. Needing only a maximum of 60 votes instead of the 67 required for conviction, a likely scenario. This would bar former President Trump from ever holding office again.

“It seems to me that there is some value in looking at an alternative to proceeding with the trial. ... I realize the two leaders have already locked in a schedule. But it seems to me there is benefit in looking at an alternative that might be able to garner bipartisan support. I don't know whether it would or not,” said Collins.

A censure resolution, unlike impeachment, would require only 60 votes to pass the Senate, and it would amount to a historic rebuke of Trump. The Senate has censured only one president previously — Andrew Jackson — a decision it reversed three years later.

“I have been talking with a handful of my colleagues, a handful, not 40,” Kaine said. “I think the Paul motion yesterday was completely clarifying that we’re not going to get near 67 votes. So I think there’s maybe a little more interest in could this be an alternative.”

“To do a trial knowing you’ll get 55 votes at the max seems to me to be not the right prioritization of our time right now,” Kaine added.

Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) is vowing to move forward with the trial, wanting to put Republicans on the record about Trump’s rhetoric.

“I would simply say to all of my colleagues: Make no mistake, there will be a trial, and the evidence against the former president will be presented, in living color, for the nation and every one of us to see,” Schumer said.

Democrats will discuss censure resolution if the Senate acquits Trump

Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) said he agreed “completely” with Schumer.

“We have a constitutional responsibility to accept this impeachment article and hold a trial,” Durbin said.

Durbin, however, did acknowledge that Democrats will discuss a censure resolution if they fail to convict Trump. Several senators have suggested the GOP support for conviction is likely capped at five — the number who voted against a bid by Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) to declare the trial unconstitutional.