Republican senators reportedly nap or doodle during Trump impeachment trial as Democrats outline case

Senator Josh Hawley was reported to have been seen with his feet up during proceedings

Certain Republican senators were seen sleeping and doodling during Democrats' “impressive” impeachment defence against Donald Trump as the trial continued this week, reports have said.

Democrats launched into a powerful case depicting the narrative of the deadly Capitol riot through “emotional” videos.

However, some Republican senators apparently had their attention elsewhere as certain members were reportedly seen to be distracted in various ways as the case unfolded.

Kentucky senator Rand Paul, who has come to blows with other senators in the last week for refusing to wear a mask, was seen doodling a picture of the Capitol building, according to a report by Business Insider.

CNN reporter Manu Raju said that Sen Paul was "doodling squiggly lines on a white pad of paper."

Read more: Follow live updates from Trump's impeachment trial

The senator was reportedly absent from a later portion of the arguments before handing a note to one of Mr Trump's attorneys during a small recess, according to ABC News' Allison Pecorin.

He was also reportedly seen once again not wearing a mask to protect colleagues against the novel coronavirus on the Senate floor for much of the proceedings.

Missouri senator Josh Hawley was seen with his feet up during the proceedings as the lone member sitting in the gallery, and “wasn’t paying attention to parts of the trial”, according to reports from NBC and MSNBC.

Sen Hawley, who voted against the certification of the Electoral College count after the riot, has been accused by Democrats and certain GOP members of facilitating the atmosphere that led to the violence.

The senator insisted to CNN reporter Manu Raju that he was paying attention when sitting upstairs and reading a stack of documents from his manilla folder.

“Well I've got the trial briefs with me, and taking notes. I'm sitting up there A, because it's a little less claustrophobic than on the floor, but B, I've also got a straight shot. Where I sit in the Senate chamber, as you know, I'm kind of in the corner,” he said

The senator added: “I can basically see the back of their heads. But I sort of picked a spot where I can look right down on them, I can see the TV, and it's interesting."

NBC News' Kasie Hunt reportedly said that Sen Mike Braun, an Indiana Republican, appeared to fall asleep at certain points during the argument and that Sen Rick Scott studied a map that appeared to be of Southeast Asia.

Ms Hunt said that all the Republican senators seemed to pay attention when a clip of rioters from 6 January saying they were inspired by Mr Trump to attack the Capitol was played, according to Insider.

House impeachment managers on the second day of the former president's impeachment trial included a comprehensive video timeline to lay out a narrative of events.

The clip included previously unreleased surveillance footage and police audio, revealing the scale of the assault on the Capitol on 6 January and how close lawmakers and their staff came to violence.

Senator Susan Collins, who voted to acquit Mr Trump in his first impeachment trial, said the footage "reinforces my belief that it was a terrible day for our country”.

The senator added that it shows here that “there's no doubt that it was an attempt to disrupt the counting of the electoral votes.”

She called the hours-long arguments and video presentations from House Democrats serving as trial prosecutors "riveting" and "compelling".

Republican Senator Mitt Romney, who has suggested he will be voting to convict Mr Trump, called the footage “overwhelmingly distressing and emotional.”

“It tears at your heart and brings tears to your eyes," he told reporters.

While a conviction still appears unlikely, certain members of the senate who have not declared their intent to vote have praised Democrats' presentation of their case on Wednesday.

Senator Rob Portman said he was "impressed" with Democrats' presentation but has not decided whether he will vote to convict, adding he believes it would be a dangerous precedent.

"I'm listening, I'm a juror," he said.

The trial will continue with additional arguments from Democrats on Thursday, followed by up to 16 hours of remarks from the former president's attorneys mounting their defence.

In order to secure a conviction, 17 Senate Republicans would have to vote against Mr Trump. Six Republican senators voted to proceed with the trial on Tuesday.