Senator presiding over Trump trial under observation in hospital

Democratic Senator Patrick Leahy, who will be responsible for presiding over the impeachment trial of Donald Trump in the US Senate, was placed on Tuesday January 26 under observation in the hospital

after having indicated not to feel well, indicated his spokesperson.

Read also: Impeachment: the indictment against Trump sent to the Senate

The 80-year-old senator had just presided in Washington, with a tired voice, the swearing-in of the senators, who will serve as jurors during the trial, scheduled from February 9, of the accused ex-president "Incitement to insurrection" in the murderous assault on the Capitol on January 6.

said spokesperson David Carle.

Since January 20, the Democrats have had a tiny majority in the Senate, with fifty senators, including Patrick Leahy, against fifty Republican seats.

In the event of a perfect tie in a vote, Vice-President Kamala Harris can vote and decide between the votes.

Patrick Leahy was named "pro tempore president" of the Senate last week, a title traditionally held by the oldest member of the majority.

In this capacity, he must preside over the trial of Donald Trump, the first ex-president in the history of the United States to be tried after his departure from the White House.

To read also: Impeachment of Donald Trump: "It is for this kind of president that the mechanism is planned"

Democrats would need 17 Republican votes to condemn him.

A number that seems difficult, if not almost impossible, to reach.

Even though the violence of January 6 caused great unease, including among Republicans, very few are those who publicly support the trial.

On Tuesday, forty-five of the fifty Republican senators even supported an initiative to try to block the procedure, arguing that it is unconstitutional to try in the Senate a former president.