GOP SENATORS ACQUIT TRUMP ANEW

Former president Donald Trump escaped conviction in his second impeachment trial as the Senate voted 57-43 to clear him of the charge of incitement of insurrection despite videotapes of his speech that goaded his zealots to attack the US Capitol on January 6, 2021 in a bid to stop the certification of Joe Biden’s win.

Nonetheless, CNN reporters Jeremy Herb, Manu Raju, Ted Barrett and Lauren Fox wrote that the verdict amounted to a bipartisan rebuke of the former President with seven Republicans finding him guilty.

The final vote was 57 guilty to 43 not guilty, short of the 67 guilty votes needed to convict. Democrats were also able to enter the statement of GOP Washington Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler about Trump’s phone conversation with House minority leader Rep. Kevin McCarthy on January 6 that quoted Trump as saying “Well, Kevin, I guess these people are more upset about the election than you are," and refused to call on the rioters to leave the Capitol.

Republicans Sens. Richard Burr of North Carolina, Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowksi of Alaska, Ben Sasse of Nebraska, Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania and Romney voted to convict Trump.

Most Senate Republicans sided with the constitutionality argument in their votes to acquit, allowing them to avoid casting judgment based on Trump's conduct.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell offered a blistering criticism of Trump's actions on the Senate floor after the vote, but McConnell said he voted to acquit because he did not believe convicting an ex-president was constitutional despite an earlier vote by the Senate that the trial was constitutional.

Even with an acquittal, the Senate may still vote to prevent Trump from running for any federal position in the future.

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