Two Republican senators promise to hold open in Trump’s second indictment

Two Republican senators promise to hold open in Trump’s second indictment

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Senator Rob Portman, Ohio, a moderate Republican, told CNN’s Dana Bash on ‘State of the Union’ that he believes Trump’s comments that led to the attack on the Capitol were partly responsible for the violence and that he will keep an open mind.

‘I said regarding the president’s comments that day that they were partly responsible for what happened to the horrific violence on Capitol Hill. I also said that what he did was wrong and inexcusable. this is how I feel. We’ll see. I’m a juror and will keep an open mind, but I think the constitutional issue needs to be addressed, ‘said Portman, who does not want re-election after his term expires in 2022.

Another moderate Republican, Sen. Bill Cassidy, Louisiana, separately told Fox News he would wait to make a decision on his vote based on the evidence presented at the trial.

‘The evidence is going to, as I understand it, focus on whether the president contributed to an atmosphere of people accusing the Capitol of breaking in, threatening, if you will, both members of Congress and Vice President (Mike) Pence “I would therefore hope that the defense refutes the charge,” he said.

The comments come hours after Trump’s five prosecutors left the team, according to people familiar with the case, amid a disagreement over his legal strategy.

A person familiar with the departure told CNN Trump wants lawyers to argue that there is mass election fraud and that the election was stolen from him rather than focusing on the legality of a president’s conviction after he left office. Trump was not receptive to the discussions on how they should proceed in this regard.

CNN reported earlier that Senate Republicans who criticized Trump without doing anything about his actions hope to distance themselves from the former president without casting votes that could backfire on Trump and his ardent supporters cause. Many say something needs to be done about what Trump has done – but not by them.

The rhetoric shows the rift between Republicans of the House and the Senate as the party struggles to find its voice after the turbulent Trump era. Many Republicans of the House remain strong Trump defenders, saying he did nothing wrong and that he should not be blamed for the violence that took place at the Capitol.

Portman said Sunday that he believes a vote in the Senate last week was forced by Kentucky Senator Rand Paul not to reject the indictment, but rather a vote to file a constitutional debate. . He believes the constitutionality of the conviction of a former president should be discussed. “The vote was not to reject the trial, but not to discuss constitutionality as a critical issue,” he said.

Many Democrats and Republicans also pointed to the vote on Paul’s order to vote on the constitutionality of Trump’s indictment, as an indication of how the final vote is likely to end. Only five Republicans joined all Democrats in killing the Kentucky Republican motion, and there is no sense that anywhere near 17 Republicans would vote to convict the former president.
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In order to convict Trump, at least 17 Republicans will have to vote with all Democrats when the trial begins. It’s important that Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell elected him on Paul’s side – a possible indication that he agrees with the constitutionality of the accusation of a former president is in question.

The Democratic-led House has already voted to accuse Trump and charged him with rebellion for the attack on the Capitol that left several people dead. But two-thirds of the Senate will have to vote to convict Trump after a trial, an extremely high standard to remove.

CNN’s Clare Foran, Manu Raju and Ted Barrett contributed to this story.

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