UPDATE: The Senate failed to reach the requisite super majority, 67 votes, to convict former President Donald J. Trump on one article of impeachment. This ends the second impeachment process of Trump, a private citizen. The effort was to ultimately prevent him from ever running for office again. The final vote: 57-43 guilty/not guilty.
Seven Republicans crossed over and voted guilty but still not enough to convict the former president.
After the vote, Minority leader, Sen. Mitch McDonnell, who voted “not guilty,” reminded the country that Trump can be criminally prosecuted for everything he did in office…possibly accessory after the fact. “He didn’t get away with anything yet.”
In a 5-4 decision, the US Supreme Court ruled that the President is entitled to absolute immunity from legal liability for civil damages based on his official acts. The Court, however, emphasized that the President is not immune from criminal charges stemming from his official or unofficial acts while he is in office.
Sen. Mitch McConnell: "There's no question, none, that President Trump is practically and morally responsible for provoking the events of the day." pic.twitter.com/MFsRBgGF9x
— The Hill (@thehill) February 13, 2021
Below is the statement from former President Trump:
– February 13, 2021 –
Statement by Donald J. Trump, 45th President of the United States of America
I want to first thank my team of dedicated lawyers and others for their tireless work upholding justice and defending truth.
My deepest thanks as well to all of the United States Senators and Members of Congress who stood proudly for the Constitution we all revere and for the sacred legal principles at the heart of our country.
Our cherished Constitutional Republic was founded on the impartial rule of law, the indispensable safeguard for our liberties, our rights and our freedoms.
It is a sad commentary on our times that one political party in America is given a free pass to denigrate the rule of law, defame law enforcement, cheer mobs, excuse rioters, and 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 honorably debate the issues of the day without malice and without hate.
This has been yet another phase of the greatest witch hunt in the history of our Country. 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.
I also want to convey my gratitude to the millions of decent, hardworking, law-abiding, God-and-Country loving citizens who have bravely supported these important principles in these very difficult and challenging times.
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!
We have so much work ahead of us, and soon we will emerge with a vision for a bright, radiant, and limitless American future.
Together there is nothing we cannot accomplish.
We remain one People, one family, and one glorious nation under God, and it’s our responsibility to preserve this magnificent inheritance for our children and for generations of Americans to come.
May God bless all of you, and may God forever bless the United States of America.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced Saturday that a deal has been reached to skip witnesses in the impeachment trial of former President Trump, not long after a vote to call witnesses threw the Senate into chaos. A statement from Congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler that led to the call for witnesses was read into the record rather than calling her to testify.
The 55-45 vote for witnesses included four Republicans who could vote to convict Mr. Trump: Senators Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, Mitt Romney and Ben Sasse. And a fifth senator’s position came as a surprise. Senator Lindsey Graham, a close Trump ally, changed his vote from “nay” to “yea” because he wanted the defense to call witnesses.
The former president is facing a charge of incitement of insurrection over the deadly assault by pro-Trump rioters on the U.S. Capitol on January 6.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said in an email to GOP colleagues he’ll vote to acquit Mr. Trump, according to a Senate staffer who was read the email by a Republican senator.
McConnell cited constitutional grounds for his reasoning. McConnell voted that the trial was unconstitutional before it began.