Senate Republicans told Politico that they hope President Trump will stay off Twitter during his impeachment trial.
The big picture: GOP lawmakers fear that a tweetstorm — like the one the president embarked on the day of the impeachment vote — could disrupt their strategy, sway undecideds and ruin the chances of a unanimous acquittal from Senate Republicans.
What they're saying, via Politico:
- Sen. John Cornyn (Texas): "This is a solemn and serious undertaking and I just think we don’t need a bunch of distractions. ... The president will like the outcome, I believe, in the end. So ... making it easier, not harder, would be a good thing."
- Sen. Susan Collins (Maine): "The president would be best served by letting his lawyers speak for him and not doing any comment. At all. ... I doubt, however, that he will heed my advice."
- Sen. Lindsay Graham (S.C.): "He can defend himself, he has a right to express his grievances, but if I were him I would … keep a low profile."
- Sen. John Thune (S.D.): "There [are] many cases in which I hope he doesn’t tweet."
Between the lines: Trump tweeted attacks aimed at former Ukraine ambassador Marie Yovanovitch as she testified before the House Intelligence Committee in November.
- Yovanovitch told lawmakers during the hearing that she found the tweets "very intimidating".
- It was the type of attack Republicans on the panel had hoped to avoid, as they sought to steer clear of appearing to intimidate the diplomat as she described her ouster.
Go deeper: Inside the McConnell-Trump impeachment trial playbook
