Mitch McConnell has votes to change rules of impeachment trial without Democrats: GOP senators

Senate Majority Leader (R-KY) apparently has enough Republican votes to change the rules for the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump.

CNN reported on Tuesday that McConnell has the support of so-called moderate Republicans in the Senate, including Sens. Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Mitt Romney.

McConnell believes that he can change the Senate rules ahead of Trump's trial with a simple majority of 51 senators. Ahead of President Bill Clinton's 1999 trial, senators voted for the rules 100-0. But it is unlikely many senators will cross party lines for Trump's trial.

Democrats have called for a "fair" Senate trial with witnesses. But McConnell has said that he favors beginning a trial before deciding whether or not to have witnesses.