Republican senators largely unmoved by Democrats’ Trump trial prosecution

Several Republican senators said Thursday that House impeachment managers failed to persuade them to convict former President Donald Trump for allegedly inciting the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.

The prosecution finished presenting its case Thursday — and Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) said afterward he believes Democrats are as guilty as Trump of using fiery language in front of large crowds.

Paul, who opposed Trump’s effort to toss out swing-state electors on Jan. 6, said Democrats have been “lucky” that their remarks didn’t translate into worse outcomes. He pointed to a controversial 2020 speech by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) at the Supreme Court.