Sen. Rand Paul
Randal (Rand) Howard PaulRand Paul disclosure shows his wife bought stock in COVID-19 treatment in late filing Hillicon Valley: Rand Paul suspended one week by YouTube over COVID-19 mask claims | Crypto industry seeks to build momentum after losing Senate fight | Senators introduce bill to promote app store competition Rand Paul suspended one week by YouTube over COVID-19 mask claims MORE (R-Ky.) sent a public warning shot on Monday night, saying that if Republicans support Democrats' impeachment witness requests, then he will force votes during the trial on calling witnesses conservatives want to hear from.
"If we are going to give a platform to witnesses the Dems demand, I look forward to forcing votes to call Hunter Biden and many more!" Paul continued.
My colleagues can’t have it both ways. Calling for some, while blocking others. If we are going to give a platform to witnesses the Dems demand, I look forward to forcing votes to call Hunter Biden and many more! https://t.co/hrOzVyiG9x
— Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) January 14, 2020
Paul's public warning comes as Senate Republicans are privately haggling over the rules resolution for President Trump
Donald Trump Las Vegas hotel that defied coronavirus restrictions loses legal battle Menendez, Rubio ask Yellen to probe meatpacker JBS Vietnam shadow hangs over Biden decision on Afghanistan MORE's impeachment trial.
Sen. Susan Collins
Susan Margaret CollinsA tale of two chambers: Trump's power holds in House, wanes in Senate Bipartisan blip: Infrastructure deal is last of its kind without systemic change The Memo: Biden beats Trump again — this time in the Senate MORE (R-Maine) said last week that she was working with a small group of Republican senators to ensure the resolution allows for both Trump's team and House impeachment managers to call witnesses.
Collins has not said if she would support calling witnesses, agreeing, along with the rest of the Senate GOP conference, to delay that decision until after opening arguments and questions from senators.
Sen. Mitt Romney
Willard (Mitt) Mitt RomneyA tale of two chambers: Trump's power holds in House, wanes in Senate China eclipses Russia as the world's 'biggest bad' actor Bipartisan blip: Infrastructure deal is last of its kind without systemic change MORE (R-Utah) has said that he wants to hear from Bolton during the trial but has not specified how he thinks his testimony should be given. Bolton was one of four witnesses requested by Democrats and said he would testify if subpoenaed.
Democrats would need to peel off four Republican senators to successfully call a witness or compel the administration to hand over Ukraine-related documents.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell
Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellMcConnell calls for US airstrikes to stop Taliban advance Vietnam shadow hangs over Biden decision on Afghanistan The Hill's 12:30 Report - Presented by Facebook - US deals with Afghanistan withdrawal fallout MORE (R-Ky.) has said he does not believe either side should call witnesses and warned Democrats last month that if they successfully call a witness, Republicans could try to call individuals Democrats would oppose, such as Hunter Biden.
McConnell told Fox News Radio that opening the door to witnesses would pave the way for a "kind of mutual assured destruction," adding that Republicans would "want the whistleblower. We're going to want Hunter Biden."
"You can see here that this would be a kind of mutual assured destruction episode that would go on for a long time," McConnell said.
Alexander Bolton contributed.