Trump impeachment: President's acquittal almost certain as Senate votes not to call witnesses
Senators have voted not to hear witnesses in the impeachment trial of Donald Trump, meaning his acquittal on charges of abuse of power and obstructing Congress is now almost certain.
A motion that would allow members of the upper chamber to subpoena witness testimony and additional documents was defeated 51 votes to 49.
The most senior Democrat in the Senate, Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, called it "one of the worst tragedies that the Senate has ever overcome".
Senators "turned away from truth and went along with a sham trial", he told reporters after the vote. "If the president is acquitted without witnesses or documents, the acquittal will have no value."
Delaware Democratic Senator Tom Carper told reporters following the historic vote that Republican senators will not attempt to force a final vote on whether to convict or acquit the president as he headed to a closed-door caucus meeting in which Democratic members will discuss how they would like to see the next few days play out.
Mr Carper said it might take a "couple weeks" to bring about an endgame.
But congressional sources indicated there is interest on both sides in wrapping the proceedings as soon as next week – possibly by Wednesday evening.
Pushing the end of the trial to Wednesday means Mr Trump would be set to deliver his State of the Union address the night before, giving him a chance to mock the very House Democrats who impeached him just hours before the Senate would be poised to clear him on both charges.
That possible scene would produce some of the most dramatic images in recent US political history, just the kind of made-for-television moment relished by the reality television star-turned-commander in chief.
But no final decision about the trial's conclusion has come into focus.
Republican senators also are huddling in their own Capitol meeting room. Both sides are trying to hammer out an agreement under which the final days of the trial would operate, meaning guidelines for closing arguments, floor statements and the final votes on the two articles.
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