Many questions remain in the lead-up to the Thursday proceedings, including if Democrats have the votes to potentially avoid going to trial altogether and if Republicans intend to rally together.House managers in the case will deliver the two articles of impeachment to the upper chamber on Wednesday, nearly two months since the lower chamber Senate procedures dictate that the upper chamber meet the day after articles have been delivered.
To move on tabling the trial, Democrats would only need a simple 51-vote majority. However, it would require that Democrats do not defect. “Senators have a constitutional duty to hold a real impeachment trial, publicly examine the evidence, and act in the best interests of their constituents,” said Ries. “Voting to table or dismiss is a violation of that duty, an endorsement of the border crisis Mayorkas has created, and would further his cover-up.”It is possible but unlikely given that some Republicans whodid so before the Feb. 15 House vote and may since have had a change of heart seeing as how the House got impeachment through.
“From what I can tell, he’s carrying out the policies of his boss, the president, for which you don’t impeach the secretary,” Romney said.