By HENRY RODGERS, THE DAILY CALLER
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s office confirmed that he will not “consent” to reconvening the Senate before Jan. 19, effectively killing hopes for removing President Donald Trump from office before President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration.
A McConnell spokesman confirmed that their office told Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s staff that McConnell won’t “consent” to reconvening the Senate before Jan. 19 after a report broke Tuesday night that McConnell is reportedly considering voting to convict Trump in an impeachment trial.
Schumer was reportedly trying to use the authority granted to the two Senate leaders in 2004 to reconvene the Senate in times of emergency to impeach Trump.
According to Axios founder and former Politico Playbook editor Mike Allen, there is a “50-50 chance” McConnell will vote to impeach Trump. McConnell is reportedly considering his own legacy and wants to defend the Senate and the institution. If McConnell voted to impeach, it is likely other Senate Republicans would jump on board, making it possible for the Senate to impeach Trump.
“The Senate institutional loyalists are fomenting a counterrevolution” to Trump, a top Republican close to McConnell reportedly told Axios.
The New York Times released a report Tuesday, citing anonymous sources, saying that McConnell is pleased Democrats will try to impeach Trump, as it will help separate the Republican Party from Trump. Rioters supporting Trump stormed the U.S. capitol Wednesday, committing acts of vandalism and violence and postponing the electoral college certification process, forcing members of Congress to evacuate the building. (RELATED: REPORT: McConnell Believes Trump Committed Impeachable Offenses)
Don’t take McConnell’s words to the bank.