Even though he is no longer the President, the Democrats and a handful of Never-Trump RINOs are still holding a Senate impeachment trial for Donald Trump, an unprecedented event in American history.
Right now no one really knows how many Republicans will vote to convict Donald Trump in the Senate.
But this one Senator’s sudden resignation could affect Donald Trump’s impeachment trial.
On Monday, Ohio Republican Senator Rob Portman announced his plans to retire from the U.S. Senate in 2022.
“It has gotten harder and harder to break through the partisan gridlock and make progress on substantive policy, and that has contributed to my decision,” Portman announced, blaming gridlock in the Senate as the reason this will be his final term in office.
“Over the next two years, I look forward to being able to focus all my energy on legislation and the challenges our country faces rather than on fundraising and campaigning,” continued Portman, making many wonder if he means supporting portions of Joe Biden’s radical agenda.
Without the fear of being voted out of office in 2022, the next two years basically amount to a “lame duck” session for Rob Portman.
So right now, the main question is how Portman’s retirement will affect Donald Trump’s Senate impeachment trial.
17 Republicans must join with Democrats in order to convict Donald Trump.
And at the moment, only Republicans Mitt Romney, Ben Sasse, Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski and Pat Toomey are expected to vote to convict Donald Trump after they voted against Rand Paul’s effort questioning the constitutionality of the current impeachment process.
But Trump’s impeachment trial definitely took a strange turn with Rob Portman’s sudden resignation.
Political Animal News will keep you up-to-date on any developments to this ongoing story.