WatermelonRat
Basically, due to a proceduralism, if they called witnesses it would have dragged the trial out. They probably calculated that prolonging the trial would be counterproductive. Letting the trial get bogged down in procedure would divert focus from the main points being made and potentially give the handful of Republicans leaning towards conviction the time to waffle and rationalize an acquittal.
Assistant
Upload King
While Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and his members had prepared for the possibility of voting on witnesses, they got no warning that the lead House prosecutor was about to force a vote that could have prolonged the trial for days or weeks.
Basically, due to a proceduralism, if they called witnesses it would have dragged the trial out. They probably calculated that prolonging the trial would be counterproductive. Letting the trial get bogged down in procedure would divert focus from the main points being made and potentially give the handful of Republicans leaning towards conviction the time to waffle and rationalize an acquittal.