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The final decision on whether to convict US President Donald Trump on his impeachment charge will come down to 100 Senators, 50 of them Republican – but just one man could seal his fate.
What Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell declares about his vote in the President’s upcoming Senate trial could be the difference between Mr Trump shrugging off being the first ever US president to be impeached twice, and him leaving office humiliated, unable to stand again and millions of dollars worse off.
“If he publicly says he will impeach, then the dam breaks,” a Democrat staffer told BuzzFeed News.
RELATED: Follow our coverage of the presidential impeachment
On Wednesday, US time, Mr Trump was impeached on a single charge of “incitement of insurrection”, passed by a margin of 232-197 in the House of Representatives.
Every Democrat voted yes. Ten Republicans joined with them. That’s 10 more than the last impeachment vote, in February 2020, where every GOP member in the Reps stood by Mr Trump.
The matter now passes to the Senate where the accused faces a trial on the charges.
It’s not a criminal trial; Mr Trump won’t go to prison. But if the President is convicted, he’s gone from the Oval Office. If he’s already left, which Mr Trump will be on January 20, then the other penalties became more important.
The impeached can be barred from standing from office in the future. In addition, some perks afforded to former presidents, such as funding for an office, travel and staff, can be removed. This can easily amount to more than $1 million annually.
However, the Senate is also where the process gets bogged down. A two-thirds majority of 67 Senators is needed. If the impeachment is pushed beyond January 20, which seems likely, 17 Republican senators will have to vote to convict Mr Trump, assuming every Democrat does the same.
That is a high bar to reach. During Mr Trump’s 2020 impeachment trial just one GOP senator, former presidential candidate Mitt Romney, went against Mr Trump.
Much of the reason for that could be put down to the diligent work of Mr McConnell. Despite him not being eye-to-eye with the President on all matters he has nonetheless been a staunch defender of Mr Trump in the Senate and has turned a blind eye to many of his excesses.
RELATED: Staunch Trump defender now ‘hates’ him
McCONNELL’S VITAL ROLE
Mr McConnell blocked key witnesses from appearing at the trial during Mr Trump’s first impeachment, made strong statements that there was “no chance” he would be removed from office and managed to keep all but one Republican on side.
Now, it appears, Mr McConnell’s steadfast support has melted away.
Strikingly, he has even held out the possibility that he may vote to convict the man he once protected.
“I have not made a final decision on how I will vote and I intend to listen to the legal arguments when they are presented to the Senate,” he said on Wednesday before the vote in the House.
Comments attributed to Mr McConnell have been even stronger.
Fox News reported that he is “done” and “furious” with Mr Trump.
According to The New York Times, he has told colleagues he “hates” Mr Trump and is “pleased” the impeachment process is happening following his dismay at the President’s comments regarding the storming of the US Capitol. On the day of the attack, Mr Trump referred to “great patriots” who had been “unfairly treated”.
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‘THE DAM COULD BREAK’
Following Wednesday’s vote, Mr Trump released a video condemning the violence in Washington D.C. that led to five deaths and his impeachment.
“Mob violence goes against everything I believe in and everything our movement stands for,” he said.
“No true supporters of mine could ever endorse political violence.”
Some have attributed these much stronger statements as part of an effort to win around senators, like Mr McConnell, and attempt to shore up support among Republican senators.
Talking to BuzzFeed News, a staff member of a Democratic Senator said Mr McConnell’s next move was now key.
“If he publicly says he will impeach, then the dam breaks.
“He can basically give cover to [Republicans] who also want to impeach and salvage his own reputation at the same time.”
That follows similar comments from Democrat Adam Schiff on Wednesday.
“These reports that Mitch McConnell may be open to the impeachment charges as well is a potential earthquake in the Senate,” he told CNN.
Turning on Mr Trump would be a huge move for Mr McConnell that may not win him friends in the GOP. But, at 78 years old and with his position secure, he may not care that much.
Mr McConnell has so far resisted attempts for an emergency trial in the Senate prior to Mr Trump leaving office next Thursday, US time.
The earliest the trial could begin would be January 19, he has said, and it would take days if not weeks to complete.
That could overshadow incoming president Joe Biden’s first days in office.
On January 20, the Democrats will take control of the Senate. But Mr McConnell will still have sway as Senate minority leader.
Even if he declared he that he would vote against Mr Trump, it’s still not certain he would be convicted.
Mr Trump has many loyal Republican senators who have backed him to the hilt, and will likely continue to do so.
But if Mr McConnell was to turn, the prospect of Mr Trump going down in history yet again – this time as first president ever to be convicted following an impeachment – will go from farfetched to entirely possible.
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