After taking the night to consider the issues at hand, senator Lisa Murkowski announces she will not support a call for further witness testimony.  It appears the primary concern for Murkowski was her ‘yea’ vote creating a 50/50 split; and she anticipates Democrats attempting to manipulate further rules forcing Chief Justice Roberts to be the deciding factor.  Murkowski stated: “I will not stand for nor support that effort.”
Posting to her Facebook Page the Alaska Senator writes:

“I worked for a fair, honest, and transparent process, modeled after the Clinton trial, to provide ample time for both sides to present their cases, ask thoughtful questions, and determine whether we need more.
The House chose to send articles of impeachment that are rushed and flawed. I carefully considered the need for additional witnesses and documents, to cure the shortcomings of its process, but ultimately decided that I will vote against considering motions to subpoena.

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There will be 24 hours of presentation by House Impeachment Managers (over 3 days); 24 hours of presentation by Defense team (over 3 days); 16 hours of Senate questioning; 4 hours of closing arguments, equally divided; and a Senate debate/vote on further motions to include witnesses. If there are going to be witnesses, they will first be deposed prior to testimony. No witness testimony will be permitted without first being deposed.
The Senate Trial continues today on day ten at 1:00pm ET. Today next steps will be debated to include anticipated motions for additional witnesses, closing statements, and possibly a vote on removal or acquittal (depending on witness motions).
Fox News Livestream Link – CSPAN Liveestream Link –

There were four key republican quisling senators who were possibilities on voting to continue the Senate impeachment trial and ask for witnesses:  Susan Collins, Mitt Romney, Lisa Murkowski and Lamar Alexander.

At the conclusion of the Senate questioning phase the results are:

♦ Susan Collins “Yes”, she wants witnesses (link).

♦ Mitt Romney “Yes”, he wants witnesses. (link).

♦ Lisa Murkowski “Undecided” wants to sleep on it (link).

♦ Lamar Alexander “No”, he does not want witnesses (link).

This tentatively puts the current whip vote for possible witnesses at 49 yea and 5o nea – with one undecided.   A 50/50 split should fail in the Senate (but there will be massive narrative manipulation of the rules by MSM).   We won’t know until actual votes on a motion to hear from witnesses are cast.
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Senator Rand Paul appears on Fox News with Martha MacCallum to discuss how the impeachment process originated.   One of Senator Paul’s concerns centers around staff of Adam Schiff and the HPSCI plotting the impeachment process.
Former NSC member Sean Misko (currently on Schiff’s staff), and former DOJ-NSD head, Mary McCord, may have participated in constructing a whistle-blower complaint eventually presented by CIA operative Eric Ciaramella; using false evidence provided by current NSC member Alexander Vindman.

After having his question denied by Chief Justice John Roberts, Senator Rand Paul held a brief press conference to discuss the reason and intent behind his question.  Senator Paul wants to know if Eric Ciaramella and Sean Misko coordinated a plot to construct an impeachment issue from within the National Security Council.
CIA operative Ciaramella and current HPSCI staff member Sean Misko were on the National Security Council (NSC) together.  Currently back in the CIA, Mr. Eric Ciaramella has been identified as the “whistleblower.”
Due to a severe level of media and internet censorship on this issue the Rand Paul presser is being scrubbed.  You can watch below:
[wpvideo 1i1krQj2]
Additionally, former DOJ-NSD head Mary McCord is also a member of the HPSCI impeachment team and has a long-term working relationship with the Intelligence Community Inspector General, Michael Atkinson.
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Missouri Senator Josh Hawley weighs in on the current Senate impeachment trial, and a possibility that some Democratic senators may vote to acquit.

In an effort to assist page load-time we are breaking up the discussion threads. This is the evening presentation following the dinner recess.
There will be 24 hours of presentation by House Impeachment Managers (over 3 days); 24 hours of presentation by Defense team (over 3 days); 16 hours of Senate questioning; 4 hours of closing arguments, equally divided; and then a Senate debate/vote on further motions to include witnesses. If there are going to be witnesses, they will first be deposed prior to testimony. No witness testimony will be permitted without first being deposed.
The Senate Trial continues tonight on day eight at 7:20pm ET. This is the evening session during the first of two days of alternating questions from Senators.
Fox News Livestream – Fox Business Livestream – PBS Livestream Link

Three days before the New York Times received a selectively leaked copy of a book manuscript written by John Bolton, Mr. Bolton’s lawyers were informed by the White House the manuscript could not be published.  [Source: John Roberts]

On January 23rd John Bolton was denied authorization to publish. On the evening of January 26th the New York Times wrote about a copy of the transcript.  It now appears Bolton’s team held a retaliatory motive and may have leaked the manuscript themselves.

Senators Ron Johnson and Chuck Grassley are on a fishing expedition to unearth the origination of conflicts within the IG report on FISA abuse. However, a word of caution, they could be on a snipe hunt and here’s why.
First, their letter. Grassley has a history within this story. Grassley has been lied to by the FBI about their use of dossier author Christopher Steele. Two years ago Grassley/Graham called out the FBI lies by sending the DOJ a criminal referral for Chris Steele.  Not surprisingly the referral went no-where and was summarily ignored by the DOJ.
Now, Grassley/Johnson want four IG footnotes declassified by Bill Barr.

(pdf link)

Grassley and Johnson are noting contradictions within the IG report.  If they are looking to reconcile contradictions, save yourself some research and read an article by Margot Cleveland SEE HERE which seems to be the north-star Chuck and Ron are following.
People are starting to question the assembly of the IG report because the underlying explanations by the FBI officials within it are fraught with a lack of candor.
Many of the officials who gave explanations to the inspector generals’ office are the same FBI officials who participated in the scheme to target Donald Trump, president-elect Trump, and President Trump.   As a consequence the FBI contradictions stem from sketchy FBI surveillance explanations that do not match the documented FBI activity.
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We might not align on all issues, but whooo doggies…. Rep. Elise Stefanik swings big timber and fights when needed during this impeachment fiasco.  If I had a $10 budget for lunch, I’d send it to her reelection campaign and wait to eat til dinner…. she’s worth it.
Most of the interview with Trump’s legislative defense team is in this video, but don’t miss the moments at 20:05 when Stefanik takes the mic.