Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) is warning that at least one-third of GOP senators will revolt and leave the party if Republicans join Democrats to convict the president.

This would potentially create the most viable third party in recent political history if Republican leadership is foolish enough to go down this path. Even though he refused to oppose the vote steal last week, Paul claims he and many of his colleagues intend to leave the party forever if the Senate goes through with impeachment.

“I didn’t agree with the fight that happened last week. I voted against over-turning the election,” Paul said while appearing on FOX News on Friday night. “But at the same time, the impeachment is a wrongheaded, partisan notion. If Republicans go along with it, it will destroy the party. A third of the Republicans will leave the party.”

“A third of the Republicans will leave the party,” Paul added. “This isn’t about, anymore, about the Electoral College, it’s about the future of the party, and whether you’re going to ostracize and excommunicate President Trump from the party. Well, guess what? Millions of his fans will leave as well.”

Paul made these responses after Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) publicly flirted with the idea of voting to convict President Trump.

“I have not made a final decision on how I will vote and I intend to listen to the legal arguments when they are presented to the Senate,” McConnell said.

Paul is putting McConnell and the rest of the GOP leadership on notice. This is the line in the sand as far as he is concerned.

“They will destroy the Republican Party. If leadership is complicit with an impeachment or if leadership votes for an impeachment, they will destroy the party,” Paul said. 

“Like I say, I have opposed President Trump when I thought he was wrong, I’ve been for him when he was right. We did a lot of good things throughout the Trump presidency, and impeachment is purely a partisan thing,” he added.

The full segment with Paul and host Laura Ingraham can be seen here:

Big League Politics has reported on the division within the GOP since 10 Republican turncoats in the House join Democrats to impeach Trump for a second time:

Liz Cheney, daughter of Dick, was one of ten GOP House members to vote “yes” on President Donald Trump’s unprecedented second impeachment. Then when some were calling on Cheney to resign over her disgraceful vote, Dan Crenshaw, who voted against impeachment, quickly came to her defense and announced his “full support” for her.

“Let’s get some truth on the record: @Liz_Cheney has a hell of a lot more backbone than most, & is a principled leader with a fierce intellect,” Crenshaw tweeted Wednesday afternoon. “She will continue to be a much needed leader in the conference, with my full support.”

“We can disagree without tearing each other apart,” he added…

Cheney’s vote comes as no surprise. Big League Politics reported on her recent statement in support of Trump’s second impeachment, part of which read: “There has never been a greater betrayal by a President of the United States of his office and his oath to the Constitution. I will vote to impeach the President.” For this CNN laughably called her the “conscience of Republicans.”

The realignment that is happening within the conservative movement might result in the destruction of the Republican Party. President Trump may ultimately destroy the GOP swamp.