That the Federal Rules of Evidence should govern any impeachment proceedings should be the top procedural requirement for any impeachment trial. Republican senators must commit to this requirement.

These rules have been time tested for fairness and applicability for all litigants in criminal and civil matters, and most states have adopted the Federal Rules or have very similar standards. There is no reason an impeachment trial shouldn't be held to the same high standards.

The Democrats case relies very very heavily on hearsay that would most likely not be admissible in any civil or criminal trial int he Federal Judiciary or any state.

If the FRE is followed, the Democrats would be left with a weak circumstantial case.

Don’t rest comfortably in the knowledge that removal requires a 2/3 majority of the senate. Trump has to rely on the vote of fickle Senate RINOs, and who knows what promises or threats will be made to get them to vote against Trump.

But the other problem is the Senate majority controls the procedures to be followed. Only a few Republicans have to be peeled off for the Democrats to affectively control the trial.

Chief justice Roberts will “preside“ over the proceedings, but it’s likely he will take the position that he has a little to no authority over the procedures the Senate votes to follow.

The only real protection Trump has or ever will have, is us. Only the groundswell of popular support for Trump is going to keep The RINOs from helping Demos remove Trump.