No witnesses, U.S. Senate decides

THE U.S. SENATE voted Friday not to call witnesses in the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump (Shutterstock).

The U.S. Senate voted narrowly Friday evening to not call any witnesses in the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump.

Voting almost strictly on party lines – with two exceptions – the tally was 51-49. All 47 Democrats voted to call witnesses, while 51 of 53 Republicans objected.

The Republicans who crossed party lines were Maine Senator Susan Collins and Utah Senator Mitt Romney, who was the 2012 Republican presidential nominee.

Friday’s action clears the way for a final vote – probably on Wednesday – as to whether to remove the President from office.