Not Enough Senate Republicans Support Motion To Dismiss Impeachment Charges

The Senate Republican caucus does not have the 51 votes needed to dismiss the impeachment trial against President Donald Trump, indicating that the majority of lawmakers wish to follow procedure and see what the trial reveals.

“I think our members generally are not interested in a motion to dismiss…. Certainly there aren’t 51 votes for a motion to dismiss,” Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Missouri) told reporters.

In a tweet Sunday, Trump pushed for the Senate to dismiss the charges and wrote that they were “giving credence” to the allegations by holding a trial.

“Many believe that by the Senate giving credence to a trial based on the no evidence, no crime, read the transcripts, ‘no pressure’ Impeachment Hoax, rather than an outright dismissal, it gives the partisan Democrat Witch Hunt credibility that it otherwise does not have. I agree!” Trump tweeted.

Dismissing the articles of impeachment would require 51 votes, and would almost certainly fall along party lines. Because there are currently 53 Republicans in the Senate, no more than two could vote against dismissal.

Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine), Mitt Romney (R-Utah) and Rob Portman (R-Ohio) are among a few Republicans who have indicated they would oppose the measure, rather electing to watch the trial play out.