In a bipartisan vote, President Trump has been impeached again. What about conviction?

Bipartisan Vote 232 to 197

Ten Republicans joined all House Democrats in charging the president with Inciting Riot at U.S. Capitol.

“We know that the president of the United States incited this insurrection, this armed rebellion, against our country,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.) said. “He must go—he is a clear and present danger to the nation that we all love.”

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R., Calif.) said Mr. Trump “bears responsibility” for the Capitol riot but said he opposed impeachment, calling for censure instead. “A vote to impeach would further divide this nation, a vote to impeach will further fan the flames, the partisan division,” he said.

The 10 votes from the minority party are the most for any presidential impeachment, topping the five cast by Democrats for some articles in the 1998 Bill Clinton impeachment.

Republicans Voting For Impeachment

1. Liz Cheney of Wyoming
2. Anthony Gonzalez of Ohio
3. Jaime Herrera Beutler of Washington
4. Dan Newhouse of Washington
5. John Katko of New York
6. Adam Kinzinger of Illinois
7. Peter Meijer of Michigan
8. Tom Rice of South Carolina
9. Fred Upton of Michigan
10. David Valadao of California

Cheney is the No. 3 House Republican. She was the only member of her party’s leadership to back impeachment. 

Trial in the Senate

The Constitution states a trial in the Senate will commence the next day. However, the Senate is in recess and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has stated the trial will be after January 20.

Constitutional Issue

This raises a Constitutional issue because Trump will already be removed. Biden becomes president on the 20th.

What's the Point?

Following conviction, the Senate has an option of banning Trump from office. That only takes a 50% vote which would happen easily.

What About McConnell?

McConnell is mum on whether he would vote to convict. I believe he would. 

Another reason to delay the vote is to wait for the two new Democratic Senators from Georgia to be sworn in. 

That makes 50 automatic votes for impeachment. If McConnell want to take out Trump, and I believe he does, he needs to come up with the votes.

Can McConnell come up with the votes? 

If McConnell openly supports a conviction, I believe it will be a signal that he has the votes even if we cannot now name the Senators.