Unless I am missing something, this country has a path to rid itself of Trump from future elective office, even with the political cowardice of Republicans. As has been said many times, if only the Senate could cast secret ballots, more than enough Republican Senators would vote their conscience and convict Trump. That is always said with lamentation, as if it were not possible. However, the Constitution does NOT necessarily require that Senate votes on impeachment be individually recorded, IF more than four-fifths of the Senators present vote for a secret ballot.
Article I of the Constitution provides:
“The Senate shall have the sole Power to try all Impeachments. When sitting for that Purpose, they shall be on Oath or Affirmation. When the President of the United States is tried, the Chief Justice shall preside: And no Person shall be convicted without the Concurrence of two thirds of the Members present...
Each House shall keep a Journal of its Proceedings, and from time to time publish the same, excepting such Parts as may in their Judgment require Secrecy; and the Yeas and Nays of the Members of either House on any question shall, at the desire of one fifth of those present, be entered on the Journal.”
So, if at least four-fifths of the Senators present vote in favor of a secret ballot, it will be so, and Trump assuredly would be convicted and disqualified from future office.
Whether it is fair for the ballots to be secret is itself a fair question. Much of the prior impeachment trial deliberation historically has been in non-public session, to allow more candid debate. As to the ballots themselves, there is an argument for individual accountability, so that voters can hold their Senator to account for the vote.
But, this is an unusual situation. Representatives already have received death threats for their impeachment votes, are wearing bullet-proof vests, and are expecting to be targets of assassination. We are in the midst of an actual insurrection, with planning reportedly underway of further violent attempts based partly on Trump’s refusal to signal a true concession and acceptance of Biden’s legitimacy.
Ballots also are often cast secretly, including by citizen voters, to prevent retribution. And the Constitution itself legitimizes secret ballots when enough Senators believe it necessary. The ballots would still be publicly counted, but without names being assigned to each vote. Imagine too the drama of each Senator dropping his or her sealed vote in the ballot box.
As to the question of whether more than nineteen Senators would vote against secret ballots, that is a different question, and a different calculation. At least a few would vote against secret individual ballots to further their individual ambitions. That has already been proven. As to nineteen, on this question, I am not sure.
Secret balloting is an extraordinary step, but these are extraordinary times, and extraordinary (but Constitutional) measures must sometimes be considered to save our Nation. Given the open insurrection and violent rebellion of the Trumpists, this may be one such time.