WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The impeachment drama that has consumed Washington since September will come to an end on Wednesday with Donald Trump’s expected acquittal in the U.S. Senate, with the Republican president pivoting toward winning re-election in November.
The Republican-controlled Senate was scheduled to vote at 4 p.m. EST (2100 GMT) on whether to convict him on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress arising from his dealings with Ukraine in only the third presidential impeachment trial in U.S. history. The Democratic-led House of Representatives approved the charges on Dec. 18.
While the vote is historic, the outcome of acquittal appears assured. A two-thirds majority vote would be necessary to remove him. Republicans hold 53 of the Senate’s 100 seats, and none of them has called for conviction. Trump, America’s 45th president, would have to turn over his office to Vice President Mike Pence if convicted on either charge.
After facing the darkest chapter of his presidency, Trump, 73, is seeking a second four-year term in the Nov. 3 election.
As they did on Tuesday, senators ahead of the vote made a series of speeches explaining their decision in the trial. It remains to be seen whether any Democratic senators break ranks from their party to hand Trump a bipartisan acquittal.
Democratic Senator Doug Jones, facing a tough re-election bid this year in Republican-dominated Alabama, said he would vote to convict Trump on both charges and vo