Mr. Paul declared victory, saying, “Forty-five votes means the impeachment trial is dead on arrival.”
Ms. Murkowski, who has praised the House’s impeachment and called Mr. Trump’s actions “unlawful,” reluctantly agreed. She told reporters that she feared that it would be impossible for most of her Republican colleagues to truly consider supporting a conviction after they had put themselves on record arguing that the trial should not even take place.
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“That’s why I thought it was a little unfortunate that we had this very spontaneous vote on an extraordinarily significant matter without the considered debate and analysis,” she said. “People had to make really quick decisions.”
But other Republicans said their votes to uphold Mr. Paul’s objection should not be read as opposition to hearing the case against Mr. Trump.
Senator Rob Portman of Ohio said that he voted with Mr. Paul because he wanted a “fulsome discussion” on the issue of constitutionality, not necessarily to kill the trial.
“I’ve not made my mind up,” he said. “I’m a juror.”
He and Senator John Thune of South Dakota, the Republican whip, suggested Mr. McConnell might feel the same way.
“I don’t think it binds anybody once the trial starts,” Mr. Thune said.
Far from settled, the argument over constitutionality will reappear when the trial reconvenes in February, when senators may seek to use it as justification for voting to acquit. The House managers have already begun preparing a constitutional justification for proceeding, and Mr. Trump’s lawyers will be asked to argue the opposite as a key plank of their defense.
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