First State Times

As former President Donald J. Trump’s second impeachment trial nears, most Republicans have signaled they will be voting for his acquittal.

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) said that the impeachment trial “is dead on arrival”.

“There will be a show, there will be a parade of partisanship, but the Democrats really will not be able to win,” Paul told Fox News, The Epoch Times reported. "This shows they don’t have the votes to win.”

Forty-five GOP Senators have voted for a point of order that called the trial unconstitutional and five voted with Democrats against the point of order.

The Senate impeachment trial requires a two-thirds majority to convict the former president.

If these five Republicans join again the Democrats in voting for Trump’s conviction, 12 more votes are still needed. Otherwise, it’s the second time the former president will be acquitted.

“I can’t see how you get 17. I think that that was a test vote,” Sen. John Boozman (R-Ark.) told reporters.

Pushing with the impeachment trial isn’t part of the healing process, said Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.)

“A trial of a former president is simply vindictive. It will divide. It is like opening up a wound and throwing salt in it. That is not a healing process,” he said. “It will not heal, it will not unite. Let’s put an end to this now. Let’s dismiss this trial and rule it unconstitutional.”