Should Senate impeachment votes be secret? Some DC Republicans Plotting Behind the Scenes to Remove Trump.

[travis t]

Originally Posted by GotHereQuickAsICould

Nailed it.

McConnell knows which side his bread is buttered.

McConnell has been in the Senate a long time (first elected 1985), and has a legacy to think of. I doubt he would want to be the first and only majority leader to preside over removal of a president, all in order to keep (possible) party control of the Senate for a couple extra years.

[travis t]

Originally Posted by Rakin

More Liberal Fantasies.

It's like Disney World in Liberal La La Land.

Author of OP's link is a GOP-connected lawyer.

[travis t]

Originally Posted by atltechdude

The thing is, there's no real way to do a secret ballot anyway.

The secret ballot would only be after a vote to authorize it that is not secret.

It would be assumed by most (probably correctly) that any Rs voting for that motion would be identical to those wanting the protection of anonymity to vote for conviction.

Best point of entire thread.

[SoCal25]

Do we really want secret votes to remove a president? Any senator not willing to stand before the public on their vote for impeachment does not deserve to hold office. What an incredibly awful precedent this would set.

[banjomike]

Originally Posted by finalmove

This liberal wet dream has been tossed out many times. Don't hold your breath on this! Jeff Flake!

You're probably right seeing McConnell will be in charge. He may allow some ad-hoc secret votes to see where the Repubs are, but those votes will be unofficial and informal. When it comes down to the serious vote that goes on the record, I'm sure it will be public. Mitch will see to it.

The only exception to this is if there's an overwhelming informal vote for impeachment. I'm sure there won't be one of them.

I fully expect the final vote will follow party lines with no more than a small handful of line-jumpers from both parties crossing over to vote against their party. Those who do will most likely be the ones who are planning on leaving the Senate after their term is up.