Senators in Donald Trump’s historic second political trial have agreed to proceed with the case, rejecting an attempt by the former president’s defense team and some Republican allies to avoid trial because he is no longer in office. .
The result of Tuesday’s vote on whether the Senate has jurisdiction and could proceed, was 56 in favor and 44 against. The vote concluded after hours of arguments from Trump’s lawyers and Democratic prosecutors, who accuse the former president of inciting riots at the Capitol on Jan. 6.
Prosecutors at the political trial managed to get an additional vote from Republicans, that of Senator Bill Cassidy. Two weeks ago, Cassidy voted in favor of dismissing the case, but on Tuesday voted in favor of proceeding. Republican Senators Susan Colllins, Lisa Murkowski, Ben Sasse, Pat Toomey and Mitt Romney also voted in favor.
Hours earlier, Cassidy told reporters that the prosecutors’ arguments for the political trial were “solid” and that it was a “very good opening.”
“I always said I would approach this with an open mind,” Cassidy added.