What if the Senate Voted in Favor of Impeachment Witnesses?

[libertpaulian]

Let's say that the Senate voted in favor of witnesses instead of saying no.

How does that affect the rest of our timeline?  When does the impeachment trial end?  Would Trump's response to COVID be worse?  What about the economic consequences?  The George Floyd responses?  Russian Bountygate?  The Berman firing?

[ProgressiveModerate]

Susan Collins would have a bit more leverage to use in her senate race, claiming she "helped" to get witnesses. Maybe she would've found a better excuse to acquit Trump than "he learned his lesson". The witnesses would've revealed some damming stuff but no one would actually care at the end of the day.  Everyone who was set to vote for Trump will stand their ground. Also, Trump probably would've hammered Murkowski and Alexander, which may not look good for him, and hurt him a bit with more establishment Rs who like Alexander.

[libertpaulian]

Susan Collins would have a bit more leverage to use in her senate race, claiming she "helped" to get witnesses. Maybe she would've found a better excuse to acquit Trump than "he learned his lesson". The witnesses would've revealed some damming stuff but no one would actually care at the end of the day.  Everyone who was set to vote for Trump will stand their ground. Also, Trump probably would've hammered Murkowski and Alexander, which may not look good for him, and hurt him a bit with more establishment Rs who like Alexander.

I agree.  What about the rest of the TL that I mentioned?

[ProgressiveModerate]

Susan Collins would have a bit more leverage to use in her senate race, claiming she "helped" to get witnesses. Maybe she would've found a better excuse to acquit Trump than "he learned his lesson". The witnesses would've revealed some damming stuff but no one would actually care at the end of the day.  Everyone who was set to vote for Trump will stand their ground. Also, Trump probably would've hammered Murkowski and Alexander, which may not look good for him, and hurt him a bit with more establishment Rs who like Alexander.

I agree.  What about the rest of the TL that I mentioned?

Probably would've made Trump slightly crazier knowing all that he has against him. He probably jumbles the COVID response a bit more, and gets into more unnecessary arguments and wars with stupid little things like wearing a mask. The timeline is pretty much the same, just with like 2% more outrage from either side. Maybe Trump would pisses off Murkowski enough that she supports Biden, which is probably a net positive to the Biden campaign, with a few progressives lashing out, and claiming that Biden is being bought by the right, but most if those people would've already been people who casted protest votes in the primary anyways (Biden still wins the primary, the Bernie wing just isn't large enough yet, and this might even encourage more people to go with the "safe" option)

[Beefalow and the Consumer]

(I misread the question. This is what would have happened had the Senate convicted and removed Trump.)

A bunch of Senators get primaried, Mike Pence faces a primary challenge from several sides but still wins, COVID + political uncertainty tanks the stock markets, President Pence is stuck between a rock (controlling COVID) and a hard place (anti-maskers, the economy) and is doomed regardless of what path he takes.

President Pence might have been able to give the nation calm reassurance and spiritual leadership, but the stench of Trump would make reelection impossible.

[libertpaulian]

(I misread the question. This is what would have happened had the Senate convicted and removed Trump.)

A bunch of Senators get primaried, Mike Pence faces a primary challenge from several sides but still wins, COVID + political uncertainty tanks the stock markets, President Pence is stuck between a rock (controlling COVID) and a hard place (anti-maskers, the economy) and is doomed regardless of what path he takes.

President Pence might have been able to give the nation calm reassurance and spiritual leadership, but the stench of Trump would make reelection impossible.

This assumes Trump is still acquitted.