With the White House and Democrats insisting the concept is unconstitutional in an impeachment trial, Senate Republicans are meeting Thursday in search of a consensus that has eluded them so far.
Critics argue there is no constitutional alternative to conviction and removal.
Republican senators have said they hope to complete the trial by Feb. 12. But with the trial resuming Thursday, the issue was not on the agenda. Senators have had a week-long break during which House trial managers took depositions from Monica Lewinsky, presidential friend Vernon Jordan and White House aide Sidney Blumenthal. The Senate Thursday was considering whether to make public the videotaped depositions and whether any or all of the witnesses should appear in person on the Senate floor. House prosecutors want to show portions of the videotapes as part of further evidence presentation, but only as a fallback position if they can't get live witnesses.