In Washington, D.C., all but five Senate Republicans backed an effort to dismiss Donald Trump’s impeachment trial Tuesday, voting in favor of an objection raised by Kentucky Senator Rand Paul, who argued the trial is unconstitutional since the goal of impeachment is to remove someone from office. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell also backed Rand Paul’s move despite accusing Trump on the Senate floor of provoking the insurrection. Although the trial will still go ahead, Tuesday’s vote could indicate it will end in Trump’s acquittal.
Meanwhile, Senate President Pro Tem Patrick Leahy was briefly hospitalized after feeling unwell Tuesday, hours after he was sworn in to preside over Trump’s impeachment trial.