Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced that former President Trump’s impeachment trial won’t begin until February 9, giving time for the Senate to confirm Pres. Joe Biden’s Cabinet. A growing number of Republicans have expressed confidence that the party will acquit the former President. Democratic Congressman. Jim Himes joins AC360 to react to the trial delay and says “it’s the best play against a pretty tough hand here.” Plus, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is privately saying he wants Trump gone as CNN has learned that dozens of influential Republicans—including some top Trump administration officials—have been quietly lobbying GOP members to vote to impeach and convict the former President. Scott Jennings was a Special Assistant to Pres. George W. Bush and is a longtime political adviser to McConnell. He tells AC360 he thinks the GOP influence could have some impact and “any political operative could reasonably conclude it would be insane for the Republican party to continue to follow Donald Trump.”

Airdate: January 22, 2021

Guests:

Rep. Jim Himes

Scott Jennings

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