'Congress has failed': Key senator to vote against calling further Trump impeachment witnesses
Barring last minute surprises, Senate will likely now move swiftly on to acquit Mr Trump
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Your support makes all the difference.Alaska senator Lisa Murkowski has announced she will vote against further witnesses during Donald Trump's impeachment trial, all but assuring a swift ending to the affair that began last year in the House.
Ms Murkowski was among a handful of Republicans viewed as potentially willing to side with Democrats to force subpoenas for further witnesses with a simple majority of senators.
Democrats needed to attract four such votes, but that possibility became increasingly unlikely, however, on Thursday night when Tennessee senator Lamar Alexander signalled he would not vote for more witnesses, bringing a potential vote on the matter closer to a tie — which would have then required input from Chief Justice John Roberts, who is overseeing the Senate trial.
Senators Susan Collins and Mitt Romney, meanwhile, have come forward as the only Republicans to call for further witnesses, after revelations from former national security adviser John Bolton's upcoming book allege that the president was personally involved in the effort to compel Ukraine to open an investigation into Joe Biden, a domestic political rival.
In a statement, Ms Murkowski suggested that House Democrats' impeachment investigation was "rushed and flawed", and claimed that she had "worked for a fair, honest, and transparent process" even as she announced she would not vote to hear more evidence.
"Given the partisan nature of this impeachment from the very beginning and throughout, I have come to the conclusion that there will be no fair trial in the Senate," Ms Murkowski wrote. "I don't believe the continuation of this process will change anything. It is sad for me to admit that, as an institution, the Congress has failed."
With Ms Murkowski's decision, the Senate is likely to hold a vote on further witnesses before ultimately continuing on to closing arguments from the House impeachment managers and Mr Trump's legal team.
Mr Trump's acquittal has appeared all but certain throughout this process, even if further witnesses are called upon.
That's because Republicans control more than 50 per cent of the chamber's votes, and the constitution requires a two-thirds super majority of the 100 person body to convict a person being impeached.
It is unclear when, exactly, the final vote may take place, but insiders have indicated it is likely not to be held until sometime in early February.
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