Member of Senate GOP leadership: Impeaching Trump 'not going to happen'
By Jordain Carney - 01/08/21 01:46 PM EST
Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) on Friday dismissed calls to impeach President Trump in the wake of riots inside the U.S. Capitol, signaling that the effort will ultimately fall short.
"No, I think it's a ridiculous discussion to have. I've got enough decisions to make about things that can happen rather than to spend time on things that can't happen," Blunt told a Missouri TV station when asked if he supported removing Trump and if Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) would bring the Senate back before Jan. 19.
"The Speaker knows this is not going to happen. Sen. Schumer knows this isn't going to happen. You don't have the time for it to happen, even if there was a reason. So there's no reason to debate this except just pure politics," Blunt added, referring to Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.).
Blunt added in a separate interview with KSHB, another Missouri TV station, that impeaching Trump was "not going to happen."
Though the House would need to pass articles of impeachment, the Senate would hold the trial and ultimately vote on whether to convict Trump and remove him from office.
Blunt is the highest-ranking Senate Republican to weigh in on calls from a growing number of Democrats for Trump to be impeached after a mob came to the Capitol as lawmakers were counting the Electoral College vote.
more
https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/533368-member-of-senate-gop-leadership-impeaching-trump-not-going-to-happen
