A new Washington Post/ABC News poll shows that 64% of GOP voters—nearly 2 in 3—want Trump to allow his senior aides to testify at the Senate trial. So do a whopping 72% of Independents.
That gives Senate Democrats opportunity to drive a wedge between vulnerable Senate Republicans running for reelection and key swing voting blocs, especially moderate Republicans and those unaligned with either party.
The poll was released on the eve before the impeachment vote in the House. This also comes at a time when a much narrower majority want the president impeached and removed from office.
Overall 7 in 10 Americans feel that Trump’s top right-hand men should testify in the Senate impeachment trial.
The Judiciary Committee on Friday passed charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. The House will now vote on these articles Wednesday afternoon.
71% of Americans, including 64% of Republicans, want Trump’s aides to testify in the Senate impeachment trial. I might be high, but that looks like a majority to me.
— Chelsea Handler (@chelseahandler) December 18, 2019
Republicans, Democrats, and Independents all believe that the Senate will give Trump a “fair trial.” According to a report by Daily Kos, “the idea that there’s some expectation of the GOP-led Senate providing fairness in this process is already a striking departure from the reality of what McConnell and his colleagues are offering.”
1998: republicans jailed Susan McDougal for 18 months because she ignored a subpoena, refusing to testify against the Clintons.
2019: POTUS instructs all complicit cabinet members, VP, State Dept, ambassadors and lawyers to IGNORE subpoenas, refusing to testify. GOP agrees. pic.twitter.com/sLnwTQOQDR
— ʝεɳ🌊 (@jennerific713) December 10, 2019
Mitch McConnell (R-Ky), the Majority Leader of the Senate is acting as if he were Trump’s personal defense attorney even while he will be voting as one of the members of the jury. McConnell has already weighed in on the outcome of the Senate vote, saying there’s “no chance” Republicans in the Senate will convict the president.
He even rejected a proposal put forward by the Democrats to have four witnesses testify. These include Mick Mulvaney, John Bolton, Robert Blair and Michael Duffey.
Democrats believe these top White House aides have crucial information about the $400 million in military aid to Ukraine that was reportedly withheld until they investigated Bide