The U.S. Senate on Saturday voted 55-45 to consider calling witnesses in the impeachment trial of President Donald J. Trump, throwing the proceedings temporarily into confusion.
Utah Sen. Mitt Romney, a Republican, voted with those favoring the witness debate, reportedly prompted after Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, R-Wash., raised evidence of a phone call to her from the House Republican leader, Rep. Kevin McCarthy of California, in which Trump expressed support for the Capitol Hill rioters.
The Senate’s surprise move early Saturday came as senators were scheduled to hear closing statements in the impeachment trial. But after a temporary break midmorning, senators turned aside the idea of calling witnesses in favor of accepting written statements instead, putting the trial back on track for a potential verdict.
Several media outlets reported that Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., and a staunch Trump supporter, and Romney were involved in a shouting match Saturday on the Senate floor over Romney’s vote in favor of considering witnesses.
Johnson is said to have turned to the Utah senator, visibly upset with him and even pointing at him at one point. Johnson also was heard to tell Romney “Blame you,” and both had their voices raised, according to reports by The Washington Post and CNN.
Romney was joined in the vote on witnesses by Republican Sens. Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Ben Sasse of Nebraska in an initial vote tally. South Carolina Sen. Lindsay Graham, a Trump associate, switched his vote to yes after the motion was sure to pass.
Utah’s GOP Sen. Mike Lee opposed considering witnesses.
The Post reported that Lee had provided attorneys copies of cellphone logs of a call from the White House at 2:26 p.m. on Jan. 6, the day of the riot. The logs are evidence of Trump’s call to Lee that day — mistaking him for Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala. — while the attack on the Capitol was underway.
The Post said Lee gave copies to House impeachment managers and Trump’s defense attorneys.
