WASHINGTON • Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Tuesday that he has the votes to start President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial as soon as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi releases the documents, winning support from GOP senators to postpone a decision on calling witnesses.

The announcement is significant, enabling McConnell to bypass for now Democratic demands for new testimony as he launches the third impeachment trial in the nation’s history on his preferred terms. It could begin this week if Pelosi sends the articles of impeachment to the Senate. She is set to meet late Tuesday with her leadership team.

“We have the votes,” McConnell said. He said the question of new witnesses and documents will be addressed later “and not before the trial begins.”

The contours of a Senate trial have been in dispute. Pelosi is delaying transmission of the articles as Democrats press to hear from former national security adviser John Bolton and other new witnesses. McConnell has resisted and prefers speedy acquittal.

The GOP leader told senators at their closed-door lunch Tuesday that he has support for his plan, outlined in an organizing resolution that would be modeled after President Bill Clinton’s impeachment trial 20 years ago. It would start the trial first and postpone votes on witnesses until later in the process.

“He has 51 (votes), for sure,”’ said Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., a top ally of the president, exiting the meeting. Republicans hold the majority in the Senate, 53-47.

In withholding the articles, Pelosi gave Democrats an opportunity to ramp up pressure on Republicans not to go along with McConnell’s proposal. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called McConnell’s plan a “trap” and a “cover-up.”

“Whoever heard of a trial without witnesses and documents?” the New York Democrat said. He asked Trump what he has to hide. “Witnesses and documents: fair trial. No witnesses and documents: cover-up.”

Republicans countered that Democrats rushed to impeach and then delayed the process. Pelosi has yet to choose House impeachment managers for the trial, a politically sensitive next step, with many lawmakers vying to be candidates. The House impeached the president last month on the two charges.

Just four GOP senators would be needed to deny McConnell his majority, but he appears to have locked up the votes. GOP leaders were conducting a whip count Tuesday to gauge support. Several GOP senators have indicated they want to hear from Bolton and other witnesses, but they are nevertheless standing with McConnell’s plan for starting the trial.

Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, said Tuesday that the Clinton process “provided a pathway” to start the trial and consider witnesses “down the road.” He said he supports it.

“I’m comfortable with that process,” Romney said. “And at this stage, I’d like to hear from John Bolton and other witnesses with the right information, but that process will accommodate that.”

Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, has also said she supports McConnell’s approach. Others say they are not sure they even need to hear from Bolton or other witnesses, blaming the House for not forcing them to testify. Trump had instructed White House officials not to comply with the House investigation.

“It’s not that I don’t want to hear from him,” said Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C. “I want to hear from him when the House is willing to do their work and have the same agreement with the ambassador on their side of the Hill.”

Trump faces charges that he abused the power of the presidency by pressuring Ukraine’s new leader to investigate Democrats, using as leverage $400 million in military assistance that is critical for the ally as it counters Russia at its border. The funding for Ukraine was released but only after Congress intervened.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., arrives Tuesday for a closed meeting with fellow Republicans as he strategizes about the looming impeachment trial of President Donald Trump at the Capitol in Washington.

the associated press