Only 3 Senate Republicans aren’t defending Trump from the impeachment inquiry. Here’s why.

Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski from Alaska.Andrew Harrer / Bloomberg via Getty Images

While a resolution denouncing the House Democrats’ fast-moving probe hasn’t received a vote, GOP Sens. Mitt Romney of Utah, Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska declined to sign on as co-sponsors — the only ones out of 53 Republicans — leaving the door ajar to the possibility that they could vote to convict President Donald Trump if impeachment moves to its trial phase in the Senate.

A top target of Democrats in 2020 as they try to flip the GOP-controlled Senate, Collins last month called Trump’s public request for China to investigate Biden “completely inappropriate” but has noted she won’t take a position on impeachment because she might be asked to serve as essentially a juror during a possible trial in the Senate. Public hearings in the House’s inquiry are set to begin next week, and if the chamber votes to impeach, a Senate trial could begin next month.

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Article URL : https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-impeachment-inquiry/only-3-senate-republicans-aren-t-defending-trump-impeachment-inquiry-n1078906