Here & Now

Wisconsin Senators Respond to Latest Impeachment Vote

Frederica Freyberg:

The vote in the U.S. Senate to reject additional witnesses in the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump moves the process to the next step, a vote on the verdict. That vote, whether to acquit or remove the president, is scheduled for next week following closing arguments. Following the 51-49 vote defeating the motion to call witnesses, Wisconsin U.S. Senators spoke to today’s action. Democratic Senator Tammy Baldwin shared this in a tweet earlier this evening. “Every Senate impeachment trial in our nation’s history has included witnesses. I voted for testimony from relevant witnesses with direct evidence about President Trump’s conduct. The American people want the truth and Senate Republicans voted to keep it a secret.” Republican Senator Ron Johnson said, “Contrary to the warnings of Speaker Pelosi, Senate Democrat Leader Schumer and Chairman Nadler, the House provided a totally partisan impeachment, rushed, violating due process and lacking any impeachable offense. Now House Democrats are demanding the Senate do their investigatory work for them. Caving to their demands would have set a dangerous precedent and dramatically altered the constitutional order, thereby weaponizing impeachment and encouraging more of them. That is why I voted no on the question of calling witnesses.”