12:54 p.m. ET, January 25, 2020
Here's how senators are reacting to the Trump team's first day of arguments
From CNN's Manu Raju
Samuel Corum/Getty Images
Sen. Joe Manchin told CNN that President Trump’s team did a “good job” and are “making me think about things.”
“One thing that stuck in my mind is they said there isn’t a witness they have had so far that had direct contact with the President. I’d love to hear from Mulvaney and Bolton,” he said.
Asked if he’s thinking about acquittal, Manchin said: “I’ll be very impartial til the end.”
Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, the West Virginia Republican, called the proceedings “solemn” and “serious.”
Regarding witnesses, “We are going to make that determination — we are going to have that vote.” She said she will make a decision after member questions.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren said: “I think they made a very strong case for why we need witnesses. I feel like I heard the language that cross examination is one of the most important parts to getting to the truth. So fine, let’s bring in the witnesses so we can do cross examination.”
Sen. Kyrsten Sinema would not comment, her handler directed CNN to her office.
Sen. Mike Braun told reporters he thinks that the defense team raising questions about Schiff’s credibility will be very effective.
“I was glad to see that they right up front caught I’m going to call them contradictions, back when he said he had direct evidence on collusion during the Mueller report, it wasn’t true...I think that hurts their case in and of itself," Braun said.
Sen. Jim Inhofe praised the White House's defense for being "very friendly."
“One by one, you can go down and I think they were very well organized in addressing the accusations. And in a very friendly way, in a very accurate. The only thing I would have preferred that they spend more time in the Ukraine thing, in terms of the weaponry, because I have very strong feelings about that,” he said.