The Senate is continuing with its impeachment trial on whether to convict or acquit former President Donald Trump on an impeachment article, “incitement of insurrection.”
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has kept silent publicly on whether he would vote to convict Trump, but now his decision is made known.
McConnell said on Saturday that he will vote to acquit Trump, The Hill reports citing a Republican senator familiar with McConnell’s decision. His decision was apparently made known in an email to the caucus.
Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) said he is unsure McConnell’s decision will swing undecided Republican senators, according to The Hill.
“Mitch has been so clear and so respectful of each individual’s senators’ conscience,” Cramer said.
The Senate was expected to have a final vote on Saturday to either convict or acquit Trump, as the former president is being charged for allegedly inciting the insurrection that occurred at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. However, Senate Democrats on Saturday called for a witness to testify.
While it was unclear how McConnell would vote, he previously voted in support of Sen. Rand Paul’s (R-Ky.) measure to declare the trial unconstitutional. He also voted this week with all but six Republican lawmakers to declare proceedings unconstitutional.
The Senate minority leader previously noted he intended to “listen to the evidence” in the Senate impeachment trial when asked how he would vote.
At least 17 Republicans have to join Democrats in order to convict Trump, in which it is reported that it “highly unlikely” that will happen.
