"I'll be doing something else," said Senator Lindsey Graham, an ardent Trump ally. Graham said he didn't want to legitimise a process that he twice called "bulls---" because it was an unfair effort by Democrats aimed at weakening Trump.

Of course, sceptics might say it was possible senators might privately sneak peeks, at least, of the hearing while claiming they'd not watched. That assertion could let them avoid answering reporters' questions about the day's developments.

Yet even Senator Mitt Romney the GOP senator who's seemed most open to considering impeachment, said he'd not be watching. He said he'd focus on it when, if it seems likely, the Senate holds a trial on whether to remove Trump, when the charges can be "weighed in a balanced manner."

Among other Republican senators, Texas' John Cornyn said he didn't need to "waste time going through all the drama over there" in the House. Senator Roy Blunt said he didn't have time on his schedule to watch while Senator Ted Cruz doubted he'd view the "partisan circus."

Only Senator Shelley Moore Capito said she'd "probably watch some of it."

"I'll see what America's going to see," she said.

AP