Only five Republicans voted with every Democrat to table Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul’s effort to stop the trial before it even got started. The GOP senator argued that holding such a trial of a former president was not constitutional, even though there is precedent for the Senate trying former government officials. 

The Senate ultimately rejected Paul’s motion by a vote of 55-45. The trial is formally scheduled to begin on Feb. 9 when House impeachment managers will present their arguments before the upper chamber. 

45 Senate Republicans Vote To Dismiss Trump’s Impeachment Trial | HuffPost