TN, VA US Senators have contrasting votes on proceeding with impeachment trial

Tennessee US Senators Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty are among 44 Republican senators who voted against moving forward with the impeachment of former President Donald Trump on Tuesday.

The question of constitutionality of impeachment against a private citizen was raised by Trump’s legal team, which efforts ultimately failed, prompting the trial to move forward. House impeachment managers will have 16 hours to lay out arguments starting Wednesday on Trump’s charge of inciting an insurrection, which will then be followed by 16 hours of arguments by the former President’s attorneys.

Virginia US Senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner voted in favor of having the impeachment trial move forward on grounds it was constitutional.

Blackburn issued a statement following the vote:

“Today’s impeachment trial is being staged for partisan political purposes as millions of families struggle to find jobs and make ends meet,” said Senator Blackburn. “Congressional Democrats are opening up a Pandora’s box and wasting tax dollars and legislative time in the process. This will not help rebuild trust with the American people.”

The charge comes after five people died during the insurrection at the US Capitol on Jan. 6 while lawmakers were certifying the 2020 election results.