WASHINGTON: The Latest on former President Donald Trump’s second Senate impeachment trial (all times local):

8:45 a.m.

A little over a month ago, rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol as Congress was voting to affirm Joe Biden’s election as the 46th president.

On Saturday, the Senate is set to meet in a rare weekend session for closing arguments in Donald Trump’s second impeachment trial. And the evenly-divided Senate is poised to vote on whether the former president will be held accountable for inciting the Jan. 6 siege.

It seems unlikely that the 100-member Senate will be able to mount the two-thirds vote needed to convict Trump. Acquittal could heavily influence not only Trumps political future but that of the senators sworn to deliver impartial justice as jurors.

Trump is the only president to be twice impeached and the first to face trial after leaving office.

House prosecutors have argued that Trumps rallying cry to go to the Capitol and fight like hell for his presidency just as Congress was convening Jan. 6 to certify Joe Bidens election victory was part of an orchestrated pattern of violent rhetoric and false claims that unleashed the mob.

Trumps lawyers say Trumps words were not intended to incite the violence and that impeachment is nothing but a witch hunt designed to prevent him from serving in office again.

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HERES WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP’S SECOND SENATE IMPEACHMENT TRIAL:

Senators are submitting written questions to the prosecution and the defense in the impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump. The defense wrapped up their case in about three hours earlier Friday.

Read more:

Close watch on tight-lipped GOP leader McConnells stand

Which GOP senators are seen as possible votes against Trump?

Rep. Herrera Beutler urges patriots to talk about Trump call

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HERE’S WHAT ELSE IS GOING ON:

7:30 a.m.

Seldom has Mitch McConnell signaled so little about such a consequential vote.

Many expect the Senates top Republican to back acquitting former President Donald Trump of a charge of inciting rioters who assaulted the Capitol last month. But no one is really sure how McConnell will vote.

The Washington political universe and the world beyond will hold their collective breath when the Senate impeachment trial roll call reaches McConnells name. The suspense over how hell vote underscores how much is at stake for McConnell and his party, though it seems extremely unlikely that 17 GOP senators will join all 50 Democrats to convict Trump.

McConnell is the chambers most influential Republican and the longest-serving GOP leader ever, and a vote to acquit would leave the party locked in its struggle to define itself in the post-Trump presidency. A guilty vote could do more to roil GOP waters by signaling an attempt to yank the party away from a figure still revered by most of its voters.

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