Schumer Not Entertaining Idea of Censuring Trump Ahead of Trial: ‘He Deserves Conviction, Nothing Less’

Given the vote just last week questioning the constitutionality of the Donald Trump Senate impeachment trial, with only five Republicans siding with Democrats, there’s been some talk of pursuing censure as an alternative to conviction.

Just last week Senator Tim Kaine joined with Senator Susan Collins to propose a resolution that would censure Trump instead.

But the problem, as Kaine candidly acknowledged today, is that Republicans don’t support is “because they don’t want to bar Trump from running” in the future and that Democrats don’t support it “because for most of my colleagues it’s impeachment or nothing.”

Sen. Kaine on censuring former Pres. Trump:

"We don't have enough support on the Republican side because they don't want to bar Trump from running from office, and I don't have enough support on the Democratic side because for most of my colleagues it's impeachment or nothing." pic.twitter.com/ltfgxBLCYA

— NBC Politics (@NBCPolitics) February 2, 2021

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer was asked Tuesday afternoon about pursuing censure and he made it clear he isn’t entertaining it right now.

“Are you open to that as an alternative?” a reporter asked.

Senate Majority Leader Schumer on former President Trump's impeachment trial and the possibility of censure instead: "He deserves conviction, nothing less." https://t.co/DFbXFoXh6K pic.twitter.com/YILBs4pahB

— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) February 2, 2021

“I think the president should be tried,” Schumer said. “Anything past that is something we can discus, but he deserves conviction, nothing less.”