As the impeachment drama neared its possible end on Friday, Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) was among many Democrats who complained that the Republican Party has become completely beholden to President Donald Trump.
Speaking to reporters in the basement of the Senate, Hirono said, “I think it’s kind of pathetic that we can only find three Republicans and we continue to call on them to find the courage to stand up to this president and to Mitch McConnell.”
Asked how confident she is that Democrats will be able to convince three Republicans to vote to hear from witnesses in the trial, Hirono said, “I’m not confident at all. It’s pathetic that there are only three of them and every single day that goes by and every hour that goes by, that seems to be in question.”
She added, “I think it’s a sad day for the so-called Republican Party, which is now the Trump party. They’re going to need to find their souls — good luck to that.”
The three Republicans that Hirono referenced who might vote for witnesses are Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Mitt Romney (R-Utah). On Thursday night, Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) said that he would not be voting to allow witnesses, essentially ensuring that Trump survives the impeachment trial in the Senate.
In a lengthy statement, Alexander said that there was no need for more evidence but offered a sort of consolation prize to the Democrats, saying “it was inappropriate for the president to ask a foreign leader to investigate his political opponent and to withhold United States aid to encourage that investigation.”
It’s still not clear exactly when the final verdict will come in, but Trump will almost certainly be able to boast to the Democratic majority in the House that he survived impeachment when he delivers his State of the Union address on Tuesday.
