Senate prepares to vote on allowing witness testimony
Vote to follow two days of intensive questioning
WASHINGTON, D.C. (KYMA, KECY/NBC News) - A second day of questioning provided a partisan preamble to Friday's big vote on allowing witness testimony in President Donald Trump's impeachment trial.
If that measure fails, a vote to acquit or convict could come as soon as Friday night.
NBC's Alice Barr has the latest from Capitol Hill.
Right now, the vote on whether to call witnesses appears to be split 50-50. That means it could fail, unless Chief Justice John Roberts weighs in, something is not expected to do.
"Enough is enough, stop all of this!" urged Eric Hershmann, a member of the Presidents defense team.
"It is NOT OK!" countered House Impeachment manager Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, (D) New York.
On Thursday, Democrats endeavored to drive home their central argument that the President abused his power by pushing Ukraine to investigate the Bidens.
"Shaking down a foreign power to help him cheat in the next election." accused Rep. Val Demings, (D) Florida, another House Impeachment manager.
Republicans leveled their own accusations. They say Democrats are trying to remove President Trump from the November ballot.
"That is the most massive election interference we've ever witnessed." said defender Pat Cipollone.
Lead house manager Adam Schiff called the White House legal arguments a descent into constitutional madness.
The President then took to Twitter to call Schiff "mentally deranged."
It all leads up to a dramatic showdown Friday, when Senators will face the critical questions of whether to call witness and extend the process, or wrap it up with a move toward acquittal.
"The president will be acquitted in a bipartisan manner." predicted Sen. Lindsey Graham, (R) South Carolina.
Three Republicans have shown an interest in hearing from witnesses, but that would mean the vote would fail with a 50-50 tie.
"Right now our focus is on getting four Republicans." said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, (D) New York.
The focus outside the chamber is on former National Security Adviser John Bolton, and whether he'll have a chance to publicly accused President Trump of withholding Ukraine's military aid for political reasons, as he reportedly alleges in his upcoming book.
With his future hanging in the balance, Trump campaigned in the Midwest late Thursday, asking voters to give him a second term.
In one surprising moment Thursday, the Chief Justice refused to read a question from Senator Rand Paul, because it might reveal information about the anonymous whistleblower.
