(CNN) Republican senators are split on whether they will watch Wednesday's first public hearing in the impeachment inquiry of President Donald Trump.

Some are dismissing it as a "political circus," in the words of Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, while others say it's important to keep up with events to "see what America's going to see," according to GOP Sen. Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia.

Many GOP senators said their schedules are already full of committee hearings and other Senate duties. There are six committees holding sessions Wednesday, including important testimony from Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell before the Joint Economic Committee.

Republican Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio said he already has a 13-hour day scheduled but will still try to catch some of the testimony live on television.

"My counsel is going to watch all of it but I'll watch as much as I can," Portman said. "I think we should listen, and I'm a juror, so we should listen to all the information."

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