Former Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld (R) claimed a number of Republican senators are now privately in support of President Donald Trump being convicted in a Senate impeachment trial.

I would say theyre four to six votes for removal right now, Weld, who is running against Trumps 2020 reelection, told The Hill in an interview published Thursday.

Republicans currently control the Senate with a 53-47 majority. Sixty-seven votes are needed to convict a president, meaning with Welds claim the figure would still fall at least 14 votes short of the threshold.

It would, however, mean a majority of senators will be in favor of convicting Trump if all Democrats also agree.

No Republican senators have publicly announced their support for conviction and Weld, one of three Republican candidates fighting Trump for the GOP 2020 nomination, refused to name names.

But he said: I know most of the senior Republicans in the Senate. Theyre picking their words carefully when they talk to me, of all people, even though we are friends.