News
Greg Evans
Feb 14, 2021
Donald Trump managed to avoid being convicted for the second time after he was found ‘not guilty’ during his second impeachment trial as Republican senators remained loyal to the disgraced former president.
Saturday’s vote fell largely along party lines as Democrats and Republicans voted 57 to 43 against impeaching Trump for inciting the violent riot that occurred in Washington DC on 6th January that left five people dead.
Remarkably, seven Republicans did break party lines and voted to convict Trump. They were Richard Burr of North Carolina, Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Mitt Romney of Utah, Ben Sasse of Nebraska and Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania. Unfortunately for them not enough of their colleagues in the GOP followed their lead.
After the vote, President Joe Biden issued a statement calling the result a “sad chapter in our history.” He added that “democracy is fragile. That it must always be defended. That we must be ever vigilant. That violence and extremism has no place in America. And that each of us has a duty and responsibility as Americans, and especially as leaders, to defend the truth and to defeat the lies.”
It was a slightly different mood in the Trump camp with the former president thanking the lawyers who defended him and his loyal supporters and promised that he has “much to share with you” in the coming months.
Trump statement makes clear he’s not going away: “Our historic, patriotic and beautiful movement to Make America Gr… https://t.co/eZgwuSiTP0— Jim Acosta (@Jim Acosta) 1613250002
Other prominent Republicans, such as Donald Trump Jr welcomed the result and called the trial a ‘waste of time.’
Beating these establishment clowns twice after years of BS and under unprecedented circumstances is a badge of honor.— Donald Trump Jr. (@Donald Trump Jr.) 1613250048
https://t.co/84wpLHuuC8— House Judiciary GOP (@House Judiciary GOP) 1613249659
Congratulations to President Donald J. Trump, who was exonerated for a second time from the Democrats’ partisan att… https://t.co/DRxOcBGdwZ— Rep Andy Biggs (@Rep Andy Biggs) 1613272933
Acquitted again!— Rep. Jim Jordan (@Rep. Jim Jordan) 1613249361
This attack on the First Amendment has failed. Its frightening point of forward progress — joined in by both sides… https://t.co/FnveYR9itv— Rep. Dan Bishop (@Rep. Dan Bishop) 1613255766
However, as you can imagine, there was a more heated reaction on the opposite side as opponents and critics of Trump lashed out at the GOP for not having the conviction to vote against the divisive former president who still appears to have a stronghold on the Republican party.
It is truly sad and dangerous that only 7 Republicans voted to convict a president who is promoting a Big Lie, cons… https://t.co/ljTE3gXFae— Bernie Sanders (@Bernie Sanders) 1613253318
Too many Republican senators are comfortable hiding behind their misguided belief that trying a former president fo… https://t.co/XGb3emSUrW— Tammy Duckworth (@Tammy Duckworth) 1613258111
Donald Trump betrayed our democracy and systemically incited insurrection. Today, I voted with 56 other U.S. Senato… https://t.co/Oj6eScj55l— Senator Jack Reed (@Senator Jack Reed) 1613259573
This trial proved Trump’s high crimes against the Constitution. 43 senators put Trump first and failed the test of… https://t.co/owLvbPPIRd— Senator Chris Van Hollen (@Senator Chris Van Hollen) 1613253775
Just do us the favor of not acting appalled when he runs again in 2024.— Meena Harris (@Meena Harris) 1613242958
Donald Trump faced tougher action from Twitter— James Felton (@James Felton) 1613249818
The 57 guilty votes represent over 2/3 of the American people.— Tom Perriello (@Tom Perriello) 1613249457
we have two political parties and one of them is scared of the former host of celebrity apprentice— Andrew Lawrence (@Andrew Lawrence) 1613253764
Teflon Don lost the 2020 election to Joe Biden by 7 million votes. He's a twice impeached, one term President who l… https://t.co/jZdelLEbeH— Wajahat Ali (@Wajahat Ali) 1613252731
The facts and the evidence were overwhelming—former President Donald Trump lied for months to his supporters, summo… https://t.co/xCFyEkKh90— Senator Tina Smith (@Senator Tina Smith) 1613255244
Our case was strong. The facts were clear. And the evidence was overwhelming. Donald Trump incited a viole… https://t.co/xhSFbGk7Q7— Rep. Diana DeGette (@Rep. Diana DeGette) 1613250492
Others claimed that it was another example of white supremacy again triumphing.
History will reflect that leaders on both sides of the aisle enabled white extremism, insurrection and violence to… https://t.co/WDOomJkm6N— Karen Attiah (@Karen Attiah) 1613249985
As I have watched this impeachment, I just keep thinking of those sham lynching trials of old where white juries wo… https://t.co/sh0bikGCSc— Brittney Cooper (@Brittney Cooper) 1613242772
Black people can’t object to a knee on our necks or kids getting pepper sprayed, but whiteness protects its own. T… https://t.co/nQq9n4NnVy— Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis (she/her) (@Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis (she/her)) 1613249896
Republican Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell’s words were curious to note. Although he voted to acquit Trump he later added, “there is no question, none, that President Trump is practically and morally responsible for provoking the events of the day.” This drew a passionate response from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi who branded him and other Republicans as ‘cowardly.’
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi blasts Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and others who voted to acquit as a “cowar… https://t.co/nmb1qQI8Zx— ABC News (@ABC News) 1613269876
It remains to be seen what Trump will do next but there are already concerns, given his aforementioned statement that he will run for president against in 2024.
More: Why impeaching Trump could impact Biden’s early days in office
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