Senate Republicans on Friday night rejected a last-ditch effort to subpoena former national security adviser John BoltonJohn BoltonAlexander to vote no on witnesses, bringing trial close to end Collins to vote to allow witnesses in Trump impeachment trial Swing votes steal spotlight in marathon Trump impeachment Q&A MORE and acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney
John (Mick) Michael MulvaneyCollins to vote to allow witnesses in Trump impeachment trial Impeachment closing arguments slated to begin Friday afternoon Democratic senator to force vote requiring Roberts to weigh in on witnesses MORE.
The back-to-back votes, forced by Democrats, marked an 11th hour effort to try to get witnesses included in President TrumpDonald John TrumpThe Memo: Trump tries to steal Democrats’ thunder in Iowa Democrats make closing arguments to Iowa voters Alexander to vote no on witnesses, bringing trial close to end MORE‘s impeachment trial.
The move came after the Senate voted to reject a mid-trial effort to allow for witnesses and documents in a 51-49 vote, falling short of the simple majority needed.
Democrats’ first measure on Friday night would have subpoenaed four officials including Bolton, Mulvaney, Mulvaney’s adviser Robert Blair and Michael Duffey, an Office of Management and Budget (OMB) official.
It also would have compelled the White House, OMB, Defense Department and State Department to hand over documents related to Trump’s decision to delay $391 million in aid to Ukraine.
The Senate tabled that measure, effectively pigeonholing it, in a party-line vote.
The second would have specifically subpoenaed only Bolton. The former national security adviser alleges, in a forthcoming memoir, that Trump directly tied the Ukraine aid to the country helping with investigations into Democrats, including the Bidens.
The Senate voted 51-49 to table that proposal, with Sens. Susan CollinsSusan Margaret CollinsAlexander to vote no on witnesses, bringing trial close to end Collins to vote to allow witnesses in Trump impeachment trial Swing votes steal spotlight in marathon Trump impeachment Q&A MORE (R-Maine) and Mitt Romney
Willard (Mitt) Mitt RomneyAlexander to vote no on witnesses, bringing trial close to end Collins to vote to allow witnesses in Trump impeachment trial Chris Christie says he could ‘definitely’ see Trump targeting GOP senators who vote for additional witnesses MORE (R-Utah) supporting the Democratic amendment.
The two measures were offered as amendments to a resolution from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellAlexander to vote no on witnesses, bringing trial close to end Swing votes steal spotlight in marathon Trump impeachment Q&A Murkowski asks why should Bolton not testify before Senate MORE (R-Ky.) that outlines how the Senate ends Trump’s impeachment trial.
Under a deal struck by Republicans, the Senate is expected to pass the resolution Friday. The impeachment trial will then adjourn until Monday when both House managers and Trump’s legal team will get two hours each to make their closing arguments.
The final votes of the impeachment trial will occur on Wednesday under the GOP deal.
Democrats are expected to vote in lockstep against the resolution that sets up the end of the trial after they failed to win over four GOP senators to support their request for documents.
