Senate to vote Wednesday on whether to remove or acquit Trump on impeachment charges

The Senate on Jan. 31 adopted Sen. Mitch McConnell’s resolution to vote on Feb. 3 whether to remove or acquit President Trump on impeachment charges. (Video: The Washington Post, Photo: Astrid Riecken/The Washington Post)

By John Wagner

Colby Itkowitz

and

Michael Brice-Saddler

January 31, 2020 at 9:00 p.m. EST

The Senate on Friday rejected a measure to call witnesses in President Trump’s impeachment trial after Republicans argued new testimony is unnecessary, ensuring the trial will be the first in U.S. history without witnesses.

Closing arguments will begin Monday morning, under a resolution adopted by the chamber. Senators plan to vote Wednesday on the two impeachment charges against Trump for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.

Democrats had been pushing to call former national security adviser John Bolton and other officials who declined to participate in the House proceedings that led to Trump’s impeachment. But most GOP senators, led by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), rallied to the president’s defense and said he should not be removed from office.

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