McConnell Says Senate Would Acquit Trump If Trial Held Today

(Politico) MARIANNE LEVINE 11/05/2019 03:59 PM EST Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Tuesday that the Senate would acquit President Donald Trump if an impeachment trial were held today. I will say Im pretty sure how its likely to end" McConnell told reporters. If it were today I dont think theres any question it would not lead to a removal. So the question is how long does the Senate want to take? How long do the presidential candidates want to be here on the floor of the Senate instead of in Iowa and New Hampshire?" The Kentucky Republican added he has yet to speak with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) on how the Senate would handle an impeachment trial. But he said the two would likely start by looking at the agreement struck between former Senate leaders Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) and Trent Lott (R-Miss.) during the Clinton impeachment trial. McConnell wouldnt comment Tuesday on Trump and Kentucky Republican Sen. Rand Pauls calls to identify the whistleblower at the heart of the impeachment inquiry who expressed concern over Trumps call pressuring the Ukrainian president to investigate his political rivals. Im not going to comment sort of on a routine daily basis on all thats breaking surrounding this story over in the House" the GOP leader said. At some point it looks to me like theyre going to send it over to the Senate. As you all know that means we have to take it up." While some Republican senators have defended Trump others have declined to comment on the latest developments in the House impeachment inquiry citing their roles as potential jurors in an impeachment trial.