Sen. Kelly waiting for trial evidence before decision on Trump

PHOENIX – As U.S. Senate Democrats begin to consider alternatives to convicting former President Donald Trump at his impeachment trial, Arizona’s Mark Kelly said the evidence would be his guide.

Kelly and fellow Arizona Democrat Kyrsten Sinema voted Tuesday to proceed with a trial, set to begin the week of Feb. 8. Nearly 50 Republican senators voted to dismiss.

“I am going to make my decision based on evidence and what I hear,” Kelly told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Arizona’s Morning News on Thursday.

“I’m going to listen to the president’s defense, I’m going to listen to the impeachment managers and I’ll make a decision based on our democratic values and what is in the best interest for our country.”

The House impeached Trump for incitement of insurrection on Jan. 13, just a week after the deadly siege at the U.S. Capitol, where his supporters rioted, leaving five people dead.

Conviction would require the support of all Democrats and 17 Republicans, or two-thirds of the Senate. Kelly said both sides of the aisle were looking at censure.

“The vote we took the other day, basically on the constitutionality of it, indicated that there wouldn’t be support [for conviction],” Kelly said.

“But as U.S. senators, we were sworn in as jurors. We’re going to sit there – all of us – and listen to both sides. Me, personally, I’m going to make a decision based on the evidence and what I hear.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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