McConnell tells GOP senators he does not have the votes to block witnesses in Trump's impeachment
Source: Washington Post
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) indicated in a closed-door meeting with Senate Republicans that he did not yet have enough votes to defeat an effort, expected later this week, to call additional witnesses and evidence in the trial.
Pressure has ramped up to include witnesses after reports that former national security adviser John Bolton says in a book manuscript that Trump directly tied the holdup of nearly $400 million in military assistance to Ukraine to investigations of former vice president Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden.
Trump’s defense team argued Tuesday that Democrats are seeking to remove him from office over policy differences as they offered their third and final day of opening arguments in a Senate trial on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.
The crux of the case for Trump’s impeachment is the allegation that he withheld military aid and a White House meeting to pressure Ukraine to investigate the Bidens. Hunter Biden served on the board of Burisma, a Ukrainian energy company, while his father was vice president. Trump’s attorneys have argued that he was justified in seeking investigations because of a history of corruption involving the company.
Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/impeachment-trial-live-updates/2020/01/28/8fadd30e-41bd-11ea-aa6a-083d01b3ed18_story.html
Full headline - Live updates: McConnell tells GOP senators he does not have the votes to block witnesses in Trump's impeachment trial
This is a breaking headline! Waiting for update article.
Original article -
Pressure has ramped up to include witnesses in the trial after reports that former national security adviser John Bolton says in a book manuscript that Trump directly tied the holdup of nearly $400 million in military assistance to Ukraine to investigations of former vice president Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden.
The crux of the case for Trump's impeachment is the allegation that he withheld military aid and a White House meeting to pressure Ukraine to investigate the Bidens. Hunter Biden served on the board of Burisma, a Ukrainian energy company, while his father was vice president. Trump's attorneys have argued that he was justified in seeking investigations because of a history of corruption involving the company.
NYT -
15 minutes ago
McConnell says he doesn't yet have the votes to block Democrats from calling witnesses.
Senator Mitch McConnell, the majority leader, told a closed-door meeting of Republicans that he does not currently have the votes to block Democrats from calling witnesses at the trial because some Republicans remain uncommitted, according to people familiar with the meeting.
In making the statement, Mr. McConnell -- who had with him a "whip count" of yes, nos and maybe votes -- was trying to show his colleagues, many of whom are eager to bring the trial to a quick close, that they do not yet have enough committed votes to forestall witnesses.
But Mr. McConnell and his leadership team are optimistic they will to end up with the votes they need by the end of the week. They are trying to create pressure on wavering senators to join with a majority of their colleagues.
https://www.nytimes.com/live/2020/impeachment-trial-live-01-28?acti&moduleTop%20Stories&pgtypeHomepage#mcconnell-democrats-witnesses
= new reply since forum marked as read
(their news is consumed on TV)
He is supposed to be down in Wildwood (NJ) to befoul it. 
to bring this about along with the calls from other citizens who wanted a fair trial. The Bolton Book put it over the top though. 
"Thank you" to everyone who called and those who keep calling (202)224-3121 ...Senate DC Directory.
