Democratic Senate Majority Cuts Impeachment Threshold to 12 Republican Votes
The Chosun Ilbo · Park Kook-hee ·
Democratic Senate Majority Cuts Impeachment Threshold to 12 Republican Votes 55 Democratic seats mean 12 Republican defections could convict Trump; June defections show possible breakaway votes post-midterms
The Democratic Party’s landslide victory in the U.S. midterm elections on the 3rd, reclaiming not only the House but also the Senate majority, has altered congressional vote calculations surrounding the potential impeachment of U.S. President Donald Trump.
If the Democrats, who have secured 54 Senate seats as of the 4th (local time), also win in Alaska where votes are still being counted, a seat composition will emerge where Trump could be removed from office even if only 12 Republican senators vote to impeach him. Just five months ago, 12 Republican senators broke ranks with their party leadership on a matter related to the Trump administration. The Senate races in Alaska and Mississippi remain undecided, but U.S. media currently project a narrow lead for the Democratic candidate in Alaska.
According to the U.S. Constitution, an impeachment motion requires only a simple majority in the House to pass, but a two-thirds majority of senators present is needed for conviction and removal. If all 100 senators are present, 67 votes are required. For this reason, while three presidents have faced four impeachment trials (including Trump twice) that passed the House, none have been convicted and removed by the Senate in U.S. history.
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