The US Senate has formally cleared former President Donald Trump of inciting an insurrection at the US Capitol last month, following an impeachment trial.
After a five-day impeachment trial in the US Senate, the vote was largely split along party lines with 57 lawmakers voting to convict and 43 voting to acquit. The tally fell short of the 67 votes the Democrats needed to convict Trump, who is the only US president to ever be impeached twice while in office.
However, seven Republicans (Senators Sasse, Romney, Burr, Collins, Murkowski, Toomey and Cassidy) voted to convict the former President, the largest number of conviction votes from senators in a President’s own party for impeachment in US history.
The proceedings marked Trump’s second impeachment trial, the only time a president has been through this process twice. His first impeachment trial, which took place in February 2020, ended in an acquittal of charges that he tried to pressure Ukraine to investigate now-President Joe Biden’s son.
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In a statement after the trial, Mr Trump welcomed his second impeachment acquittal and slammed the trial as “yet another phase of the greatest witch hunt in the history of our Country.”
He said the trial was “a sad commentary on our times” that the Democrats had been given a “free pass to transform justice into a tool of political vengeance, and persecute, blacklist, cancel and suppress all people and viewpoints with whom or which they disagree.
“I always have, and always will, be a champion for the unwavering rule of law, the heroes of law enforcement, and the right of Americans to peacefully and honourably debate the issues of the day without malice and without hate.
“No president has ever gone through anything like it, and it continues because our opponents cannot forget the almost 75 million people, the highest number ever for a sitting president, who voted for us just a few short months ago.”
Donald Trump
The former President also hinted at a possible return to the political spotlight, declaring that “Our historic, patriotic and beautiful movement to Make America Great Again has only just begun.
“In the months ahead I have much to share with you, and I look forward to continuing our incredible journey together to achieve American greatness for all of our people. There has never been anything like it!”
Donald Trump
Senator Lisa Murkowski, one of the seven Republicans who voted to convict Donald Trump in the impeachment trial and the only one who is up for re-election next year said in an interview that she felt it was important for her to stand up for her values with this vote.
“If I can’t say what I believe that our President should stand for, then why should I ask Alaskans to stand with me?
“This was consequential on many levels, but I cannot allow the significance of my vote, to be devalued by whether or not I feel that this is helpful for my political ambitions.”
Senator Lisa Murkowski
House speaker Nancy Pelosi also expressed her opinion on Trump’s acquittal in a statement released by her office after the trial.
“Donald Trump’s incitement of insurrection against our Democracy put Senators, Members of Congress, staff and heroic law enforcement officers in mortal danger. It is the most grievous constitutional crime ever committed by a president and is clearly deserving of conviction.”
Nancy Pelosi
Ms Pelosi applauded the Republican senators who voted to convict Trump, while condemning the 43 Republicans who allowed the former President to be acquitted.
“I salute the Republican Senators who voted their conscience and for our Country. Other Senate Republicans’ refusal to hold Trump accountable for igniting a violent insurrection to cling to power will go down as one of the darkest days and most dishonourable acts in our nation’s history.”
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