A growing number of Republican senators, 17 of whom would be needed to convict Donald Trump, say they oppose even holding an impeachment trial over the former president’s incitement of the Capitol mob earlier this month.
House Democrats, who will deliver the impeachment charge of “incitement of insurrection” to the Senate today, hoped that GOP denunciations of Mr Trump in the aftermath of the 6 January riot would translate into a conviction.
But as that day stretches further into the past, Republican senators are rallying to Mr Trump’s legal defence, including Marco Rubio, who claimed the trial was “stupid” and “counterproductive”.
“The first chance I get to vote to end this trial, I’ll do it,” he said.
It comes as President Joe Biden prepares to sign an executive order aiming to boost government purchases from US manufacturers, following the loss of more than half a million factory jobs since last February.
Mr Biden's order would modify the rules for the Buy American program, making it harder for contractors to qualify for a waiver and sell foreign-made goods to federal agencies.
Key stories:
- Michael Cohen suggests Trump may have secretly pardoned himself and his children
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- Rudy Giuliani ‘admits his associate sought to bill Trump campaign $20,000 per day'
- How will Joe Biden’s new press secretary differ from her predecessors?
