CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WCHS) — Members of West Virginia’s congressional delegation will be attending a presidential inauguration like no other Wednesday in Washington, D.C.
Sens. Joe Manchin and Shelley Moore Capito and Reps. Alex Mooney and Carol Miller will be attending.
Rep. David McKinley, R-W.Va., however, will not be attending. A spokeswoman for the 1st District congressman did not give a reason.
Security has increased dramatically in the week leading up to Wednesday’s inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden.
Manchin said while everyone is on high alert, the mood among senators he has talked to is “determined.” He spoke with reporters in a conference call Tuesday.
“We’re determined to make sure this government is still going to be the beacon of hope around the world. And we’re going to do our job, and I feel very secure,” Manchin said.
Manchin said all of his colleagues know they need to be there early Wednesday to go through all of the security checks before being seated.
The conservative Democrat finds himself in a more powerful position in the soon-to-be evenly divided Senate, where both sides will be courting his vote on hot button issues.
Manchin, along with his colleagues in the Senate, will be sitting as a juror for the second time in the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump.
He was asked if he believes the votes are there in the Senate to convict the president for allegedly inciting an insurrection against the government.
“I don’t think right now, I’d be a betting man, that we don’t have 67 votes. As of today, a strong statement by (U.S. Senate Majority Leader) McConnell gives me some pause. There might be an opportunity. There might be a chance if the evidence is overwhelming,” he said.
Manchin said he believes right now the evidence is overwhelming for a conviction.
The Senate will need 67 votes to convict. They would need all 50 Democrats and 17 Republicans for a conviction.