30-second recap: Impeachment Trial Day 9

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— For a second day, U.S. senators questioned House prosecutors and President Donald Trump’s defense attorneys in advance of a vote on Friday that will either lead to an ongoing impeachment trial or lead to an acquittal of charges for the president.

As the day went on, Democrats courted four Republican senators considered possible swing votes in hopes they would join them in a vote on Friday to pass a resolution to allow for witnesses and documents in the trial.

Here are some of the questions, answers and sideline drama that took place on Thursday.

The Lamar Alexander vote

Sen. Alexander announced Thursday night that he would not be voting with Democrats to allow for witnesses to be called during the Senate impeachment trial, all but assuring that the likely Friday vote will fail.

Alexander was one of four Republicans that Democrats had hoped they could sway to vote in favor of calling witnesses. The other three are Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah; Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine; and Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska.

Assuming all the Democrats vote for witnesses to be called, the loss of Alexander’s vote means that Democrats have no way to get to 51 votes, a simple majority, that would allow for House managers and Trump’s attorneys to call witnesses or subpoena documents.