21.   By an identical vote, the Senate defeated a motion to dismiss the charges against the president and adjourn the trial.

22.   If that failed, the next step would have been a vote to adjourn the trial.

23.   If not, the Senate would vote to adjourn the trial and possibly consider an alternative punishment, most likely a censure.

24.   It would be joined by a motion to then adjourn the trial.

25.   Just before adjourning the trial until Tuesday, Mukasey rejected a motion for a mistrial entered by lawyers for four of the defendants.

26.   Moving to adjourn the trial rather than to dismiss the charges would be easier for Republicans to accept because it would leave the House impeachment intact though not endorsed.

27.   On Thursday, for example, the trial was adjourned early because a juror reportedly received telephone threats.

28.   Once the case is dismissed, the trial is adjourned or Clinton is acquitted, the Senate can and should draft a resolution condemning him.

29.   Senator Christopher Dodd, a Connecticut Democrat, suggested that Democrats still have options to avoid or adjourn a trial.

30.   Senators would be free to make motions to adjourn the trial, propose censure or call witnesses after the opening phase.