Democratic hopes of calling new witnesses in President Trump's impeachment trial took a massive hit late Thursday, when Republican Sen. Lamar Alexander declared that he didn't need to hear any more evidence. The Tennessee lawmaker said after Thursday's question-and-answer period that Democrats had proven that the president acted "inappropriately," but he did not believe it met the "United States Constitution's high bar for an impeachable offense," the BBC reports. "There is no need for more evidence to prove something that has already been proven," said the senator, who had been seen as a key swing vote on the question of calling new witnesses. More:
- Trial could end abruptly. A vote on the question of calling new witnesses is expected Friday, and the trial could end with Trump's acquittal during today's session if at least four Republicans fail to vote with all 47 Democrats on the witness question, the AP reports. Democrats had hoped Alexander would join Sens. Mitt Romney, Susan Collins, and Lisa Murkowski in voting to allow witnesses.