Copy to Clipboard Donald Trump speaks to reporters on the South Lawn of the White House (Getty Images) On Tuesday, January 26, Republican Senator Rand Paul made a motion on the Senate floor that Trump’s trial in February violates the US Constitution. 17 Republicans would need to vote to convict Trump on an impeachment charge, but only five Republican lawmakers joined Democrats in the Senate to reject the move. Suddenly, it is becoming clear to many that Trump's second impeachment trial will probably end in an acquittal, which brings one option to the fore — censuring Trump. Republican Senator Susan Collins of Maine, who was one of the five GOP lawmakers to say the trial was constitutional, said on January 26, "I think it's pretty obvious from the vote today that it is extraordinarily unlikely that he will be convicted. Just do the math." On January 27, she said that "it seems to me that there is some value in looking at an alternative to proceeding with the trial… I realize the two leaders have already locked in a schedule. But it seems to me there is benefit in looking at an alternative that might be able to garner bipartisan support. I don't know whether it would or not."