Sen. Susan Collins and a 'fairly small group' of GOP colleagues could open the door to impeachment witnesses
 
 
House Democrats will get the ball rolling again on impeachment at a meeting Tuesday morning, deciding Tuesday or Wednesday on which House lawmakers will serve as managers at the Senate impeachment trial of President Trump. Assuming the House sends its two impeachment articles to the Senate on Wednesday, Trump's trial will likely start next week, though the Senate hasn't yet agreed on rules for the trial.
Trump tweeted Sunday that an impeachment trial would give "credence" and "credibility" to the House's charges, so Senate Republicans should vote for "outright dismissal." Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has "signed on to an outlier proposal" to dismiss the charges without a trial, "but he does not have enough support in the Republican-held chamber to actually do it," The Associated Press reports. Instead, he's facing the possibility that a handful of Republicans could side with the Democrats and open the door to witnesses and new evidence.
Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) disclosed Friday that she has been working with a "fairly small group" of GOP colleagues to ensure a "trial that will allow the opportunity for both the House and the president's counsel if they choose to do so." She did not name names, though Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) said she wants rules like those used in President Bill Clinton's trial, which did allow witnesses. If four GOP senators sided with all 47 Democrats, they could control which rules were adopted.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
 
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) told Politico that support for procuring new documentary evidence is "even stronger than we thought, with large numbers of Republicans supporting it." Trump will almost certainly survive the trial — conviction takes support from two-thirds of senators — but Democrats will make the most of demanding a "fair trial" to put vulnerable Republicans like Collins on the spot, and Republicans will apply other pressures to peel off any vulnerable Democrats.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
- 
 The 8 best dark comedies of the 21st century The 8 best dark comedies of the 21st centuryFrom Santa Claus to suicide terrorism, these movies skewered big, taboo subjects 
- 
 France’s ‘red hands’ trial highlights alleged Russian disruption operations France’s ‘red hands’ trial highlights alleged Russian disruption operationsUNDER THE RADAR Attacks on religious and cultural institutions around France have authorities worried about Moscow’s effort to sow chaos in one of Europe’s political centers 
- 
 Codeword: October 30, 2025 Codeword: October 30, 2025The Week's daily codeword puzzle 
- 
 Senate votes to kill Trump’s Brazil tariff Senate votes to kill Trump’s Brazil tariffSpeed Read Five Senate Republicans joined the Democrats in rebuking Trump’s import tax 
- 
 Border Patrol gets scrutiny in court, gains power in ICE Border Patrol gets scrutiny in court, gains power in ICESpeed Read Half of the new ICE directors are reportedly from DHS’s more aggressive Customs and Border Protection branch 
- 
 Shutdown stalemate nears key pain points Shutdown stalemate nears key pain pointsSpeed Read A federal employee union called for the Democrats to to stand down four weeks into the government standoff 
- 
 Trump vows new tariffs on Canada over Reagan ad Trump vows new tariffs on Canada over Reagan adspeed read The ad that offended the president has Ronald Reagan explaining why import taxes hurt the economy 
- 
 NY attorney general asks public for ICE raid footage NY attorney general asks public for ICE raid footageSpeed Read Rep. Dan Goldman claims ICE wrongly detained four US citizens in the Canal Street raid and held them for a whole day without charges 
- 
 Trump’s huge ballroom to replace razed East Wing Trump’s huge ballroom to replace razed East WingSpeed Read The White House’s east wing is being torn down amid ballroom construction 
- 
 Trump expands boat strikes to Pacific, killing 5 more Trump expands boat strikes to Pacific, killing 5 moreSpeed Read The US military destroyed two more alleged drug smuggling boats in international waters 
- 
 Trump demands millions from his administration Trump demands millions from his administrationSpeed Read The president has requested $230 million in compensation from the Justice Department for previous federal investigations 
