While impeachment managers provided a systematic breakdown on how Trump’s conduct for four years culminated in the Capitol riots, they failed to get the 67 votes needed to convict. Former President Donald Trump’s second impeachment trial ended on Saturday afternoon with him being acquitted of the single charge of inciting supporters to storm the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. The decision to acquit Trump came after five days of contentious proceedings, hours of edited videos, and a bizarre abandoned plan on Saturday to call witnesses on the House Democrats’ behalf. While impeachment managers provided a systematic breakdown on how Trump’s rhetoric throughout his four-year term culminated in his incitement of the Capitol riots, they failed to garner the 67 votes needed to convict. The outcome was hardly a surprise. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell told colleagues on Saturday morning he planned to join 43 other GOP senators who had already said the unprecedented trial was unconstitutional. Six Republicans had voted that the impeachment trial was constitutional—Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Ben Sasse (R-NE), Mitt Romney (R-UT), Pat Toomey (PA). Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC) joined them on Saturday to vote to convict Trump.
In a statement, Burr said that he initially believed it was “unconstitutional’ to impeach an ex-president but he believes “the facts are clear.” “As I said on January 6, the President bears responsibility for these tragic events. The evidence is compelling that President Trump is guilty of inciting an insurrection against a coequal branch of government and that the charges rise to the level of high Crimes and Misdemeanors,” he wrote. “Therefore, I have voted to convict. I do not make this decision lightly, but I believe it is necessary.” Burr added that Trump “violated his oath of office to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution” by what “he did and by what he did not do” during his term.
via daily beast: Impeachment Trial Ends With Senate Acquitting Trump