AP, WASHINGTONRepublicans lack the votes to block witnesses at US President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial, US Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said late on Tuesday, a potentially major hurdle for Trump’s hopes to end the trial with a quick acquittal. Earlier, Trump’s lawyers concluded his defense with a plea to move on. McConnell told colleagues in a private meeting that he did not yet have the votes to block Democrats from summoning witnesses. A decision to call more witnesses would require 51 votes to pass. If senators agree they want more witnesses, they would then have to vote again on whom to call.
