The Senate will go forward with the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (right) announced Tuesday.
McConnell said 51 Senators voted to move forward with the trial without the articles of impeachment, which House Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi (left) has refused to send to the Senate after House Democrats voted to impeach Trump last month.
“We have the votes,” McConnell said in a press conference on Tuesday.
McConnell said the Senate will follow the precedent set by the Clinton impeachment trial 22 years ago.
“What’s good for President Clinton is good for President Trump,” McConnell said in response to a question about the Senate vote to call witnesses.
“We’ll get around to discussion of witnesses,” he added. “51 Senators determine what we do.”
Pelosi previously said she would turn over the articles of impeachment to the Senate when she was assured there would be a fair trial.
During a meeting with the visiting Greek Prime Minister on Tuesday afternoon, Trump said he is ready for the Senate trial.
“It’s a hoax; the impeachment is a big hoax,” he said. “It’s become a laughing stock all over the world… In many ways, it’s one of the greatest hoaxes ever perpetrated on our country,” he told reporters.
