There’s been speculation about Republican tactics at the upcoming Impeachment trial of former President Trump. In case you were wondering if the team tactic of the Republicans – and, remember, they like to do everything as a team, and express outrage when someone goes off and thinks for themselves – is to simply not attend the actual vote, keep this in mind:
The Senate shall have the sole Power to try all Impeachments. When sitting for that Purpose, they shall be on Oath or Affirmation. When the President of the United States is tried the Chief Justice shall preside: And no Person shall be convicted without the Concurrence of two thirds of the Members present. [Constitution of the United States of America]
Present is the keyword here. I see no mentions of quorums, either. That means if the Republicans decamp en masse, the Democrats have an easy road to conviction, assuming the evidence presented by the House managers is convincing.
So enough Republicans have to be there to make the math work. A likely scenario is 55 votes for conviction, which suggests 84-55=29 Republicans would need to be present and voting nay for Trump to escape further disgrace.
I wonder how they’d go about deciding who doesn’t have to show up and who does? Sounds like quite the little war.
But they don’t want to vote on this, either.
