Donald Trump’s impeachment trial looms as Republicans grapple with a leadership void

Walking on eggshells, playing for time. That’s how political scholar Elaine Kamarck sums up the mindset of Republican senators, sitting in judgement of former US president Donald Trump at his coming impeachment trial.

The former president is the first to be impeached twice by the US House of Representatives and now faces a second trial in the Senate, accused of inciting an insurrection at the US Capitol on January 6.

The Senate needs a two-thirds majority to convict Mr Trump, which would require 17 Republicans to break ranks and join with all 50 Democrats to vote for a conviction.

But rather than a rebellion, Ms Kamarck, who is the director of the Center for Effective Public Management, expects senators to look for any reason to acquit as…