The Senate rejected an attempt on Tuesday to derail former President TrumpDonald TrumpHouse passes voting rights and elections reform bill DEA places agent seen outside Capitol during riot on leave Georgia Gov. Kemp says he'd 'absolutely' back Trump as 2024 nominee MORE’s impeachment trial by getting it declared unconstitutional.
Senators voted 56-44 that the trial is constitutional. The vote required only a simple majority.
Six GOP senators joined with Democrats to say they believe the trial is constitutional, largely mirroring a similar vote from late last month.
Only Sen. Bill CassidyBill CassidyTrump was unhinged and unchanged at CPAC Republicans, please save your party Senate panel splits along party lines on Becerra MORE (R-La.), who had previously supported an effort by Sen. Rand Paul
Randal (Rand) Howard PaulHouse approves George Floyd Justice in Policing Act Bipartisan group of senators introduces bill to rein in Biden's war powers House sets vote for George Floyd police reform bill MORE (R-Ky.) that would have declared the trial unconstitutional, flipped and said on Tuesday that he believes it is constitutional.
Despite Cassidy's vote, the result again underscored the uphill battle Democrats face to get the 17 GOP senators needed to convict Trump.

Cassidy panned the presentation from Trump's team, contrasting it with the House impeachment managers he believes were more effective.
"I said I'd be an impartial juror. Anyone listening to those arguments — the House managers were focused. They were organized. They relied upon both precedent, the Constitution and legal scholars. They made a compelling reason. President Trump's team was disorganized," Cassidy said.
He added that "as an impartial juror, I'm going to vote for the side that did the good job."
GOP Sens. Susan CollinsSusan Margaret CollinsOVERNIGHT ENERGY: Interior reverses Trump policy that it says restricted science | Collins to back Haaland's Interior nomination | Republicans press Biden environment nominee on Obama-era policy Republicans, please save your party Susan Collins to back Haaland's Interior nomination MORE (Maine), Lisa Murkowski
Lisa Ann MurkowskiDemocrats cut deals to bolster support for relief bill White House not ready to name Tanden replacement The Hill's 12:30 Report: Washington on high alert as QAnon theory marks March 4 MORE (Alaska), Mitt Romney
Willard (Mitt) Mitt RomneyRepublicans, please save your party Mellman: How the Senate decided impeachment The Memo: Is Trump mounting a comeback — or finally fading? MORE (Utah), Ben Sasse
Ben SasseGarland's AG nomination delayed by GOP roadblocks Republicans, please save your party Mellman: How the Senate decided impeachment MORE (Neb.) and Pat Toomey
Patrick (Pat) Joseph ToomeySasse rebuked by Nebraska Republican Party over impeachment vote Philly GOP commissioner on censures: 'I would suggest they censure Republican elected officials who are lying' Toomey censured by several Pennsylvania county GOP committees over impeachment vote MORE (Pa.) had previously voted to say the trial was constitutional and voted the same way on Tuesday.
House impeachment managers and Trump's team spent hours debating if the trial was constitutional ahead of Tuesday's vote. That's a shift from last month's vote, where Republicans appeared caught off guard that Paul was forcing the issue.

