The Senate has acquitted Donald Trump of inciting the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, bringing his trial to a close and giving the former president a historic second victory in the court of impeachment.
Trump is the first president to be impeached twice, and he is also now twice acquitted as the majority of Republicans defended his actions. Trump was found 91裸聊视频渘ot guilty91裸聊视频� of incitement 91裸聊视频� two-thirds of the Senate, or 67 votes, was needed for conviction 91裸聊视频� the final vote was 57-43.
House Democrats argued that Trump caused the violent attack by repeating for months the false claims that the election was stolen from him, and then calling on his supporters to 91裸聊视频渇ight like hell91裸聊视频� just before they laid siege to the Capitol. Democrats argued that Trump had 91裸聊视频渙bvious intent91裸聊视频� as he egged on supporters they said were primed for violence.
Trump91裸聊视频檚 lawyers argued that the trial was brought on by Democrats91裸聊视频� 91裸聊视频渉atred91裸聊视频� of Trump and that it was unconstitutional because he had left office. They said the rioters acted on their own accord, despite Trump91裸聊视频檚 words. And they argued that Trump was protected by freedom of speech and to convict him for something he said would set a dangerous precedent.
The House impeached Trump before he left office for 91裸聊视频渋ncitement of insurrection91裸聊视频� after the violent mob broke into the Capitol, destroyed property and hunted for lawmakers as they counted the presidential electoral votes. Five people died.
If Trump had been convicted, the Senate would have taken a second vote on whether to ban him from running for office again. Only two other presidents, Bill Clinton in 1999 and Andrew Johnson in 1868, have been impeached. Both were also acquitted.
Though the chamber voted to acquit him Saturday, it was easily the largest number of lawmakers to ever vote to find a president of their own party guilty at impeachment proceedings.
Voting to find Trump guilty were GOP Sens. 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, Patrick Toomey of Pennsylvania.
Romney91裸聊视频檚 91裸聊视频済uilty91裸聊视频� vote at Trump91裸聊视频檚 initial impeachment trial last February had made him the first senator to ever vote to convict a president of the same party.
