GOP Sen. Ernst Comes Out Against Convicting Trump, Argues Conviction Is Unconstitutional

Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) speaks during a news conference following a weekly policy luncheon on April 2, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Zach Gibson/Getty Images)
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Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) said on Tuesday that she would not vote to convict President Donald Trump when he eventually faces a Senate impeachment trial.

Ernst told reporters that she believes convicting Trump, who is leaving the White House in 24 hours, would be unconstitutional given that he will no longer be president by then, according to CNN.

The senator also argued that that it would be a waste of time anyway.

“Why are we doing this when the President is out of office?” she asked.

Ernst said she has “read arguments on both sides, but he is not our President after tomorrow.”

The GOP senator also swiped at Democrats, whom she claimed “want to further divide the nation” with their impeachment push, according to the Hill.

She is the second senator to come out against conviction. Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) announced last week that he would vote to acquit Trump.

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