The former president hinted at returning to politics again in the future. "We have so much work ahead of us, and soon we will emerge with a vision for a bright, radiant, and limitless American future," he said.
One and a half months after the Capitol Hill riots, former US President Donald Trump was acquitted in a 57-43 vote in his second impeachment trial. Experts say that his acquittal shows the power he still has over his party. The Senate debated about his impeachment for five days at the scene of last month's riots. The Senate fell 10 votes short of the two-thirds majority needed to convict for high crimes and misdemeanors, reports the Guardian.
If Trump was convicted, he would have been disqualified from holding future office. Democrats aren't the only ones who voted him guilty as seven Republicans also chose to declare him guilty on the charge of "incitement of insurrection." Republican 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 voted with the Democrats. This was the most bipartisan impeachment vote in Senate history, says the Guardian.
No president has ever been convicted during an impeachment trial. Trump has been acquitted in the Senate impeachment trial for the second time, according to NBC News. The trial began on February 9, 2021, during which the House impeachment managers charted the former president's behavior before, during, and after the Capitol attacks, as per People. They used public records and video footage to argue that the attack took place since Trump started claiming that the November election was illegitimate. In the first impeachment trial, he was previously charged with abuse of power and obstruction of Congress in the Ukraine scandal.
After the acquittal, the former president, 74, began by thanking his "team of dedicated lawyers and others for their tireless work upholding justice and defending truth." He also thanked 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," Trump said, as per a statement acquired by People.
"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," he continued.... "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," he added.
"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!" the statement continued.
The former president hinted at returning to politics again in the future. "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," Trump shared.
While he is looking forward to prolonging his political career, Melania Trump, disengaged from the impeachment trial. "She goes to the spa, has lunch, goes to the spa (again), and has dinner with Donald on the patio," a source familiar with her schedule at Mar-a-Lago, her home in Palm Beach, Florida, told CNN. "Rinse and repeat. Every day."
"It's pretty much the same as it was before [she was the First Lady] or even when she would come down during vacations," said the source.
References:
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/feb/13/donald-trump-acquitted-impeachment-trial
https://people.com/politics/trump-reacts-senate-vote-acquit-second-impeachment-trial/
https://edition.cnn.com/2021/02/12/politics/melania-trump-mar-a-lago-impeachment/index.html
