Lamar Alexander Announces He Will Vote Against Impeachment Trial Witnesses
Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) announced his decision to vote against witnesses in the Senate impeachment trial of President Trump Thursday night after the end of the question and answer session. reported CNN.
Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN), file screen image.
Lamar Alexander’s full statement:
“I worked with other senators to make sure that we have the right to ask for more documents and witnesses, but there is no need for more evidence to prove something that has already been proven and that does not meet the United States Constitution’s high bar for an impeachable offense. …The Constitution does not give the Senate the power to remove the president from office and ban him from this year’s ballot simply for actions that are inappropriate.
“The question then is not whether the president did it, but whether the United States Senate or the American people should decide what to do about what he did. I believe that the Constitution provides that the people should make that decision in the presidential election that begins in Iowa on Monday. …Our founding documents provide for duly elected presidents who serve with ‘the consent of the governed,’ not at the pleasure of the United States Congress. Let the people decide.” – Senator Lamar
Alexander is one of four Republican senators whose votes are thought undecided that could tip the scales in favor of witnesses if all four vote with all 47 Democrats. The other three are Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT).
Collins announced Thursday night she would vote in favor of witnesses.
If there is a tie the motion for witnesses would fail, unless Chief Justice John Roberts decided to cast the deciding vote, something that is questionable as to whether he has that power.
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2020/01/lamar-alexander-announces-he-will-vote-against-impeachment-trial-witnesses/