Senator Susan Collins (R-Me) issues a............>

US: Senator Susan Collins (R-Me) issues a statement on twitter regarding John

Bolton and the potential to call witnesses for President Donald Trump's Senate

impeachment trial, something the administration seems keen to avoid.  

- Indicates she "was always likely to vote to call witnesses[...]the reports

about John Bolton's book strengthen the case for witnesses and have prompted a

number of conversations among my colleagues". 

- This comes after Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Ut) stated at the weekend that it is

"very likely" that he will vote for the trial to hear from additional witnesses.

- Presuming all Democrats and independents vote for extra witnesses, this would

require two more Republican senators to vote against the party line. 

- Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R-Ak), Lamar Alexander (R-Tn), Martha McSally (R-Az) and

Cory Gardner (R-Co) are seen as the potential swing voters. The first is viewed

as something of a centrist in the Republican party, the second is standing down

at the end of this term in Nov and so will not be worried by party or electoral

repercussions, while the final two both face re-election in Nov and therefore

risk challenges in primary elections.