McConnell expects Senate impeachment trial to start next Tuesday

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said that he expects the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump to begin on Jan 21, after the House votes on Jan 15 to name the Democrats who will argue the case for Trump's removal and to send the case over to the Senate.

McConnell reiterated that he has the support of 53 Republican senators on an initial resolution to outline how to move forward. The first measure, he said, would set up the arguments from both parties — the prosecution and the defense — and then provide for a period in which senators could submit written questions.

Conviction can only happen in the Senate and requires at least two-thirds of its members, or 67 senators, to vote in favor after a trial. Currently, the Senate has 53 Republicans, 45 Democrats and two independents.