Sen. Patty Murray hopeful that Senate will interview more witnesses during impeachment trial

WASHINGTON – Sen. Patty Murray anticipates there will be deal-making on witnesses in the impeachment trial scheduled to begin next week.

“I think the American people understand that you can’t make a decision if you don’t have a chance to actually look at what will help you make that decision,” said Murray, a Washington state Democrat, in an interview on Capitol Hill on Wednesday morning. “I think there’s a number of Republicans who feel that way. I think they have agreed with (Majority Leader) Mitch McConnell that they don’t want that at the beginning.”

But Murray said she didn’t believe the list of potential witnesses should include Hunter Biden, the son of Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and a board member of the Ukrainian oil firm that the president has indicated he wanted investigated.

“Hunter Biden is not material to what the charges are for the president,” Murray said. “He can’t shine any light on whether or not the president used his power and influence to pressure a foreign government by withholding dollars. Hunter Biden had nothing to do with that.”