LIVE: Senate Begins Impeachment Q&A After Trump's Defense Team Rests

(Feb. 12) Donald Trump's attorneys rested their case in the impeachment trial after a little more than three hours. In the next phase of the trial, Senators will be allowed to question both sides.

Senators are beginning to submit questions to their party leaders for a question-and-answer session with lawyers for both sides that will come after Trump’s defense lawyers complete their arguments.

Republican Mitt Romney told reporters that he’s submitted five possible questions for the session that will extend as long as four hours, and Republican Lisa Murkowski said she’s put forth several. Both declined to elaborate or say whether they definitely will pursue their questions.

Murkowski, who says she hasn’t decided how she’ll vote on impeachment, was among many critics of the Trump lawyers’ initial performance earlier in the week. By contrast, she said, “they are putting on a good defense today.”

Democrat Tim Kaine said he doesn’t expect many questions will be asked, as senators appear to be moving rapidly toward the conclusion of the trial, with Trump’s acquittal all but inevitable. “My prediction is that if there are questions, it will be a very narrow subset,” he said.

But Kaine made clear he’s not impressed with the former president’s case. “Donald Trump was warned if you don’t stop talking about the ‘stolen election,’ people will be killed. He was specifically warned that. He kept talking about it. And a violent mob attacked the Capitol. And seven people are dead who would be alive today.”