McConnell has the votes to block Democrats’ witness demands in Trump impeachment trial | TheHill
Collins told reporters at Monday evening votes that the Senate should follow the 1999 precedent and consider the question of subpoenaing additional witnesses and documents only after House impeachment managers and Trump s defense team present their opening arguments.
She noted in a statement Monday that then-Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-Miss.) and Democratic Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) adopted a resolution in 1999 to set out the rules for the proceeding that didn’t include any agreement for specific witnesses to testify.
The process moved to a period during which the Senate debated and voted that three witnesses should be deposed. I believe that this process the Clinton approach worked well, she said.
via thehill.com
I’m sure Collins and Murkowski got something out of this deal beyond the joy of following precedent, but that’s how sausages get made.