Impeachment trial appears headed for acquittal
Republican secure enough votes to block witness testimon
WASHINGTON, D.C. (KYMA, KECY/NBC News) - Senate Republicans are poised to wrap up President Donald Trump's impeachment trial and move toward acquittal.
The slow-moving trial switched to the fast track Friday afternoon, after potential Republican defectors made their true intentions known.
NBC's Alice Barr has the details from Capitol Hill.
Even before the pivotal vote, the outcome seemed certain.
A cluster of key Republicans coming out to say they'd vote no, while still acknowledging the President's actions were inappropriate.
Senator Lisa Murkowski, (R) Alaska, saying in this partisan impeachment, there will be no fair trial, and continuing the process won't change anything.
Even as their quest for more evidence appeared headed for a dead end, House Managers made an 11th hour appeal.
"Let the American people know you that you understand they deserve the truth." urged Rep. Adam Schiff, (D) California.
Republicans securing enough votes to move toward the final stage to acquit the President. At the same time, more explosive allegations emerged from the upcoming book by former National Security Adviser John Bolton.
The New York Times reports Bolton alleges President Trump tried to draw him into a pressure campaign to get Ukraine to investigate the Bidens - starting last May.
"What this does is move up the timetable on trump's involvement." says New York Times reporter Michael Schmidt.
"In MAY there was a meeting in the oval office - in which Trump said to Bolton - call Zelensky and make sure that he'll meet with Giuliani." continues Schmidt.
In a statement the White House said, "That meeting never happened."
But the revelations clearly energized Democrats for one last push - getting their story on the record with the American people, even though their chances for success in the Senate appeared dim.
