The Senate has voted to acquit former President Trump in his second impeachment on the charge of inciting an insurrection.
According to CNBC:
The Senate on Saturday acquitted former President Donald Trump on the charge of inciting insurrection for his role in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, which left five people dead including a U.S. Capitol police officer.
The decision came after House impeachment managers reversed course and dropped a call for witnesses that would have delayed the verdict. The acquittal marks the end of a five day impeachment trial.
Nine House Democrats served as impeachment managers in the trial and argued that Trump had a direct responsibility for the riots, displaying new video and audio evidence during the attack inside the Capitol.
Trump’s defense team denied that the former president incited the attack and argued that Trump’s rhetoric was protected under the First Amendment. His lawyers also argued that the trial was unconstitutional since Trump was a private citizen and no longer president.
This was the first time in history a Senate trial was held for a former President.
Many expected this outcome when earlier today Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell indicated he would vote to acquit.
However, 7 GOP Senators voted to convict Trump, they were: Senators 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.
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