Rand Paul warns one third of Republican lawmakers will leave the party

Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) declared that roughly ‘a third’ of all Republicans would leave the party if GOP senators team up with Democrats to impeach President Donald Trump as the lame duck president seeks to punish the 10 Republican representatives that voted for impeachment.

Speaking with Fox News host Laura Ingraham Friday, Paul claimed that efforts to impeach Trump after he incited the mob last week were ‘purely a partisan thing.’

 ‘I didn’t agree with the fight that happened last week, and I voted against overturning the election,’ Paul said. 

‘But at the same time, the impeachment is a wrongheaded, partisan notion. But if Republicans go along with it, it will destroy the party. A third of the Republicans will leave the party.’

Speaking with Fox News host Laura Ingraham Friday, Paul claimed that efforts to impeach Trump after he incited the mob last week were ‘purely a partisan thing’

'I didn't agree with the fight that happened last week, and I voted against overturning the election,' Paul said. 'But at the same time, the impeachment is a wrongheaded, partisan notion. But if Republicans go along with it, it will destroy the party. A third of the Republicans will leave the party'

‘I didn’t agree with the fight that happened last week, and I voted against overturning the election,’ Paul said. ‘But at the same time, the impeachment is a wrongheaded, partisan notion. But if Republicans go along with it, it will destroy the party. A third of the Republicans will leave the party’

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told his Republican colleagues President Trump’s impeachment trial will be a ‘vote of conscience’ – an absence of pressure that effectively allows them to vote guilty

10 Republican representatives that voted for impeachment 

Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming

Rep. Anthony Gonzalez of Ohio

Rep. Fred Upton of Michigan

Rep. Peter Meijer of Michigan 

Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler of Washington 

Rep. Dan Newhouse of Washington 

Rep. Tom Rice of South Carolina

Rep. Adam Kinzinger of Illinois 

Rep. David Valadao of California 

 Rep. John Katko of New York

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told his Republican colleagues President Trump’s impeachment trial will be a ‘vote of conscience’ – an absence of pressure that effectively allows them to vote guilty.

McConnell has already communicated that he has not made up his mind on whether to convict Trump – following reports of his fury after a MAGA mob ransacked the Capitol, with one crowd of invaders stopped steps from McConnell’s leadership office.

‘His message to me was this would clearly be a vote of conscience,’ North Dakota Republican Sen. Kevin Cramer said. ‘He’s always been respectful of members that way.’

House leaders also called the House impeachment vote this week a ‘vote of conscience’ – and 10 Republicans including Conference Chair Rep. Liz Cheney joined Democrats, with 232 voting to impeach Trump.

In the Senate, Democrats would need at least 17 and possibly 18 Republicans to convict – putting individual senators to weigh their feelings as well as the views of some of their angry constituents – or some to simply not turn up at all; conviction is by a two-thirds majority of those who vote.

The dissention among the Republican Party is so intense that Trump and his loyal followers are already gearing up to challenge those who dare side with impeachment efforts.

Just moments after he became the first president in U.S. history to be impeached twice, Trump summoned his advisers and demanded that they provide intel on the 10 Republicans who voted against him. 

The lame duck president wanted to know if he had ever done anything for any of the politicians who voted in favor of impeachment, sources familiar with the matter told the Wall Street Journal.   

Trump and his loyalist have slammed those willing to turn on the president, selecting members of the far-right to potentially contest the various individuals in their primaries in two years.

After leading the second impeachment of President Donald Trump this week, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., holds a news conference at the Capitol Friday

After leading the second impeachment of President Donald Trump this week, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., holds a news conference at the Capitol Friday

Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming

Rep. Anthony Gonzalez of Ohio

10 Republicans including Conference Chair Rep. Liz Cheney (left) joined Democrats, with 232 voting to impeach Trump. Rep. Anthony Gonzalez (right)

Rep. David Valadao of California

Rep. John Katko of New York

From left to right: Rep. David Valadao of California and Rep. John Katko of New York

Trump has specifically targeted two prominent GOP leaders: John Thune, a South Dakota Senator and the second highest ranking Senate Republican, and Representative Liz Cheney (R-WY), the third-ranking House Republican.

‘I suspect we will see a lot of that activity in the next couple of years out there for some of our members, myself included,’ Thune said to the New York Times. He added that he and others would have to ‘play the hand you’re dealt.’    

Paul and McConnell’s comments toward the impeachment comes as Capitol Police have confirmed that they are investigating claims that Republican gave some of the fanatic supporters ‘reconnaissance’ tours of the Capitol the day before the riot.

An internal Capitol Police intelligence report issued three days before the January 6 riot warned that ‘Congress itself’ could be the target of MAGA protesters.

National Guard troops assemble outside of the U.S. Capitol on January 16

National Guard troops assemble outside of the U.S. Capitol on January 16

Workers set up the stage outside of the U.S. Capitol ahead of the Inauguration of U.S. President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris on January 16

Workers set up the stage outside of the U.S. Capitol ahead of the Inauguration of U.S. President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris on January 16

The report noted that Trump supporters saw January 6 – the day that Biden’s electoral college win would be certified by Congress – ‘as the last opportunity to overturn the results of the presidential election.’

‘This sense of desperation and disappointment may lead to more of an incentive to become violent,’ the report warned. It continued that the rioters’ potential targets were ‘not necessarily the counter-protesters as they were previously, but rather Congress itself.’

Meanwhile, Capitol Police confirmed Friday that they are investigating claims from Democratic congressional members, that Republican congress members gave Trump supporters ‘reconnaissance’ tours of the Capitol the day before the deadly January 6 riot.

A week and a half after the riot, however, the National Guard now has a major presence in Washington, DC, as razor wire fences have been put up around the Capitol Building grounds, while road blocks have also been set up.

Members of the National Guard secure the area near the Capitol for possible protest ahead of U.S. President-elect Joe Biden's inauguration

Members of the National Guard secure the area near the Capitol for possible protest ahead of U.S. President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration

The US Army confirmed Friday that up to 25,000 National Guard troops will be in Washington, DC, in preparation for Biden's inauguration next week

The US Army confirmed Friday that up to 25,000 National Guard troops will be in Washington, DC, in preparation for Biden’s inauguration next week

The armed forces will be there to support 'federal law enforcement mission and security preparations' during the inauguration, to help protect the Capitol, according to The Hill

The armed forces will be there to support ‘federal law enforcement mission and security preparations’ during the inauguration, to help protect the Capitol, according to The Hill

The US Army confirmed Friday that up to 25,000 National Guard troops will be in Washington, DC, in preparation for Biden’s inauguration next week. They’ll be there to support ‘federal law enforcement mission and security preparations’ during the inauguration, to help protect the Capitol, according to The Hill.

The large number of armed National Guard members being sent to Washington comes as law enforcement agencies fear the threat of extremist violence across the country.

The FBI has received information that ‘armed protests’ are being planned at the Capitol and at all 50 state capitols in response to Biden’s inauguration, according to an internal document obtained by CNN.

National Guard troops stand guard at the fence line around the US Capitol building in Washington

National Guard troops stand guard at the fence line around the US Capitol building in Washington

On Saturday, National Guard members could be seen stopping cars on the road and speaking with drivers before letting them pass. Guardsmen were also seen patrolling the Capitol Building grounds, while also manning positions outside its fence

On Saturday, National Guard members could be seen stopping cars on the road and speaking with drivers before letting them pass. Guardsmen were also seen patrolling the Capitol Building grounds, while also manning positions outside its fence

The document stated that the armed protests were expected to take place from January 16 to at least January 20 in state capitols and in Washington from January 17 to January 20, according to CNN.

Federal authorities are said to be tracking dozens of people who are seen as posting possible concerns of violence that may be going to Washington for the inauguration, sources told the news organization. Security officials are also said to be concerned about cars that might be used to breach security.

On Saturday, National Guard members could be seen stopping cars on the road and speaking with drivers before letting them pass. Guardsmen were also seen patrolling the Capitol Building grounds, while also manning positions outside its fence.       

People pass through a security checkpoint in D.C.

People pass through a security checkpoint in D.C.

The large number of armed National Guard members being sent to Washington comes as law enforcement agencies fear the threat of extremist violence across the country

The large number of armed National Guard members being sent to Washington comes as law enforcement agencies fear the threat of extremist violence across the country