Trump impeachment: McConnell ‘doesn’t have votes’ to block new witnesses testifying in Senate trial
Pressure is on undecided senators as Senate Majority Leader comes up short to prevent witness testimony
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Mitch McConnell says he lacks the votes necessary to block attempts to introduce new witnesses in Donald Trump's impeachment trial, according to reports.
Republicans hold a 53-seat majority in the Senate and can't afford more than three votes to peel away from the Senate Majority Leader's attempts to bring the trial to a close.
The president's legal counsel delivered its closing arguments on Tuesday.
Mr McConnell's closed-door announcement arrives after former national security chief John Bolton, in a leaked manuscript of a forthcoming book, confirmed that the president froze military aid to Ukraine in an attempt to pressure the country's president to investigate Joe Biden's son, at the core of the abuse of power charge against Mr Trump.
Following his departure from the administration, Mr Bolton also said he would be willing to testify.
Several Republican senators have indicated that they would be interested in his testimony, following the publication of the manuscript. Senators who are undecided about whether to call witnesses will likely face intense scrutiny over the next several days.
The White House blocked members of the administration from testifying during the House investigation.
In defence against a charge of obstruction, the president's legal team has argued over the last several days that Mr Trump exerted his executive privilege by denying requested documents, and Mr Trump also has expressed national security concerns over high-ranking officials like Mr Bolton appearing as witnesses.
An open door for impeachment trial witnesses could allow Republicans an opportunity to subpoena Hunter Biden, who sat on the board of a Ukrainian energy company that the president's counsel has argued was engaged in corruption, while Democrats pursue a testimony from Mr Bolton.
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