Top Senate Republican: Plan is 'to move to immediately acquit on Friday night' if no witnesses are called

U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-WY), the third most-powerful Republican Senator, says the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump could be over by Friday. Barrasso, who serves as the Chairman of the Senate Republican Conference, Wednesday afternoon said that it appears no witnesses will be called, which means there would be nothing left for Senators to do except vote on whether or not to convict and remove Donald John Trump as President of the United States.

Reuters reports Barrasso "told reporters on Wednesday that Republicans seemed to have the 'momentum' to move to end the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump by Friday, without calling witnesses."

The NY Daily News reports Barrasso says the "momentum is clearly in the direction of moving too final judgement on Friday. We still have a couple members who said they want to listen to answers to questions, but that's where the momentum is in the caucus right now."

NBC News adds that Barrasso says the "plan would be to move to immediately acquit on Friday night if in fact the Senate votes against calling additional witnesses."

Barrasso could also be doing Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's bidding, trying to squelch the tremendous momentum among the American people who do want witnesses to be called. Polls show 75% of the public thinks witnesses should testify before Senators vote.