GOP signals support for Trump ahead of trial
US Senate Republicans on Tuesday signalled they were ready to hand former president Donald Trump an acquittal as most of them rallied behind a motion that argued his impeachment trial was unconstitutional.
The proposal, moved by Republican Senator Rand Paul, was defeated in a 45-55 vote in the Democratic-led Senate that cleared the way for the trial to proceed. But the voting pattern showed that Trump could be acquitted, since a conviction requires a two-thirds majority.
At least 17 Republicans senators will have to vote with the 50 Democrats in the impeachment trial in the Senate to achieve the supermajority to convict Trump, who is charged with incitement of insurrection at the US Capitol on January 6.
Only five Republican senators voted against Paul’s motion. The remaining 45 voted in support of the proposal. Trump was impeached by the House on January 13. The Senate trial is slated to start on February 9.
Blinken committed to a free Indo-pacific
Antony Blinken took office on Tuesday as the 71st secretary of state with a pledge to revitalise US diplomacy, engaging with the world, and pursue a “free and open Indo-pacific”. Blinken was confirmed by the Senate with a 78-22 vote.
Russia okays extension of N-arms pact with US
Russia’s parliament okayed a five-year extension to the New START nuclear arms control treaty with the US before it expires on February 5. The pact limits nuke warheads, missiles and bombers Russia and the US can deploy. The nod came after Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin held a phone conversation.