Murkowski to vote against witnesses in Trump impeachment trial

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, speaks during a ceremony at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Dec. 15, 2018. (Public domain photo by Airman 1st Class Crystal A. Jenkins/U.S. Air Force)

Sen. Lisa Murkowski announced Friday that she will vote against calling witnesses in the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump, almost certainly ending Democratic hopes to extend testimony.

“Given the partisan nature of this impeachment from the very beginning and throughout, I have come to the conclusion that there will be no fair trial in the Senate,” she said in a written statement. “I don’t believe the continuation of this process will change anything. It is sad for me to admit that, as an institution, the Congress has failed.”

Maine Republican Sen. Susan Collins has said she will support a limited number of witnesses, and Sen. Mitt Romney, a Republican from Utah, has signaled that he would like to hear from at least former national security adviser John Bolton.

Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., a key swing vote on the question of whether to call Bolton and others, said he would not vote for more testimony on Thursday.

Murkowski said her decision was partly based on a wish to protect the impartiality of the judicial branch. Had she decided to vote for witnesses, it would have raised the possibility of a 50-50 tie. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts might then have been called on to break the tie.

“It has also become clear some of my colleagues intend to further politicize this process, and drag the Supreme Court into the fray, while attacking the Chief Justice,” her statement says. “I will not stand for nor support that effort. We have already degraded this institution for partisan political benefit, and I will not enable those who wish to pull down another.”

Alaska Public Media’s Julia O’Malley contributed to this story.

 

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