CGTN America
In this image from video, Senators cast their vote on the motion to allow additional witnesses and evidence to be allowed in the impeachment trial against President Donald Trump in the Senate at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Friday, Jan. 31, 2020. The motion failed with a vote of 51-49. (Senate Television via AP)
The U.S. Senate has rejected efforts to call more witnesses in the impeachment trial for President Donald Trump.
This pushes the trial one step closer to an acquittal vote for Trump. But senators have considered pushing off the final vote on his vote to next week.
The vote followed a near party-line, with 51-49 striking down the motion. Republican senators Mitt Romney and Susan Collins broke ranks and voted in favor of calling witnesses.
But the impeachment still falls in the middle of the 2020 election cycle, as voting for the Iowa Caucus begins Monday and Trump gives his State of the Union speech on Tuesday.
