Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has suggested an impeachment trial for President Donald Trump could start as early as Tuesday.
That would be one day before President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris are inaugurated.
The trial could go on for weeks or months. A conviction would require the votes of 67 senators.
President Trump likely will be out of office before there’s a vote on whether to convict or acquit him. But if a conviction takes place, he could lose his right to a pension, annual travel allowance and the security detail that former presidents usually get.
And by a simple majority vote, the Senate could ban him from running for office again. (But first, the Senate would have to convict him with the 67 votes.)
House members are divided on the timeline. Some are saying the trial should be delayed, so that the Senate can focus on President-elect Biden’s agenda and Cabinet nominees.
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