Senate Republicans brush off impeachment threat from House Dems: 'It would be quickly disposed of'

Senate Republicans are publicly dismissive of the threats from House Democrats that they may bring articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump, knowing that they have all the power in the situation, The Hill reported.

Some Democrats in the House of Representatives have been vocal for months about their desire to impeach the president, but so far impeachment hasn't gained any momentum. Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) has an idea why that is.

"It would be defeated," Cornyn said. "That's why all they want to do is talk about it. They know what the outcome would be."

'Quickly disposed of'

Democrats control the House, so they very well could introduce and pass articles of impeachment. But because Republicans have such a significant majority in the Senate (53-47) as well as the potential vice presidential tie-breaking vote, there's almost no chance that such an effort could be successful.

After the release of the Mueller report, in which special counsel Robert Mueller left open the question of whether the president should be charged with obstruction of justice, some Democrats have called for impeachment based on the evidence Mueller presented.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said impeachment based on Mueller's report would be quickly dismissed.

"I think it would be disposed of very quickly," said Graham, who is the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. "If it's based on the Mueller report, or anything like that, it would be quickly disposed of."

How would it play out?

With control of the Senate, Republicans would have the power to dictate how extensive an impeachment trial would be. Meaning, it would not be extensive at all. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) would be able to set the rules and ensure a brief trial with limited input by Democrats.

"Why on earth would we give a platform to something that I judge as a purely political exercise?" Senate Judiciary Committee member Thom Thillis (R-N.C.) asked. "We have to perform our constitutional duty, but if people think that we're going to try and create a theater that could give you the perception that this is a matter that rises to the level of Watergate, that's nonsense."