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Sen. Mazie Hirono Predicts GOP Senators Will Not Convict Trump Out of ‘Fear’

The Senate is set to begin its impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump to either acquit or convict him on the charge of “ incitement of insurrection .” The trial will begin on Tuesday and comes after only the…

Madison SummersFeb 9, 20212 min read

Watch Horono’s interview below:

Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.) said, “I don’t know of anyone that their mind is not made up ahead of the Impeachment trial. The first question on the issue of constitutionality, that drives a lot of it and everything else. I think people are pretty locked down.”

Asked if Lankford is right with his remark, Hirono shared that she has heard “if Republicans could vote by secret ballot, most of them would vote to convict.”

“That shows that they are hiding behind an unconstitutional claim that is not the case,” Hirono said. The lawmaker added that she believes it is a “sad thing” Republican senators may not vote to convict and the “lack of conviction is on the Republicans.”

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) led an effort to declare Trump’s Impeachment trial unconstitutional, but it failed with a 55-45 vote — five Republican senators did not vote for it, as IJR previously reported on.

Lankford also said ahead of the Senate’s Impeachment trial, “You’ve got to solve the first issue first. Does this have standing in the basic case? Is this constitutional? Is this jurisdictional? That’s already settled for many people including myself.”