US President Joe Biden has urged Americans to defend democracy after Donald Trump’s acquittal during his second impeachment trial, saying, “This sad chapter in our history has reminded us that democracy is fragile.”
In a statement on Saturday night, Biden said the contents of the charges against his predecessor over the January 6 riot in which five people died was not in dispute, and pointed to the seven Republicans who voted guilty.
Even those who oppose the conviction, such as Senate minority leader McConnell, believe Donald Trump was guilty of a ‘shameful dereliction of duty’ and was ‘practically and morally responsible for provoking’ the violence unleashed on the Capitol, ” he said.
He recalled those who fought that day to protect democratic institutions, adding, “This sad chapter in our history has reminded us that democracy is fragile. That it must always be defended. That we must always be vigilant … Each of us has a duty and responsibility as Americans, and especially as leaders, to defend the truth and defeat the lies. “
Biden spoke hours after Trump was acquitted by the Senate in his second impeachment trial – a verdict that underscored the dominion America’s 45th president still has over the Republican party even after leaving office.
After just five days of debate in the chamber that was the scene of last month’s invasion, a divided Senate fell 10 votes short of the two-thirds majority needed to condemn high crimes and felonies. A conviction would have allowed the Senate to vote to disqualify him from holding future office.
Seven Republicans joined each Democrat to find Trump guilty on charges of “inciting insurgency” after his months-long quest to undo his defeat against Joe Biden and its deadly conclusion on January 6, when Congress gathered to hold the formalize election results.
The 57-43 votes were the most bipartisan conviction ever in a presidential impeachment trial. The outcome, which was never in doubt, reflected both the still-raw anger of senators over Trump’s behavior as his supporters stormed the Capitol last month – and the flimsy grip the defeated president still has over his party.
Republicans willing to defy him were 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.
Trump’s acquittal came after dire warnings from nine Democratic House executives, who served as prosecutors, that Trump continued to pose a threat to the nation and to democracy itself.
“If this isn’t a serious crime and felony against the United States of America, then there’s nothing,” congressman Jaime Raskin, the chief executive, pleaded with the senators in the closing moments before passing their verdict as jurors and witnesses. “President Trump must be condemned for the security and democracy of our people.”
In a speech on the ground after the vote, Senator Mitch McConnell, the minority leaders, said Trump’s actions prior to the attack on the Capitol amounted to a “ disgraceful dereliction of duty ” by the former president, for whom he was “ practically and morally responsible. to provoke the events of the day “
But McConnell concluded that the Senate was never intended to serve as a “moral tribunal,” and instead suggested that Trump could still face criminal charges.
“President Trump is still accountable for everything he did during his tenure,” McConnell said. “He hasn’t gotten away with anything yet.”
Saturday’s vote came after proceedings were briefly thrown into chaos when house managers unexpectedly moved to call witnesses, in an effort to shed light on Trump’s state of mind as the attack unfolded. Taken by surprise, Trump’s legal team threatened to depose “at least more than 100” witnesses, saying Pelosi was at the top of their list.
After a frantic bout of uncertainty in which the managers’ request appeared to extend the trial for several more weeks, senators struck a deal with the prosecution and Trump’s attorneys to avoid calling witnesses. Instead, they agreed to enter as evidence the written statement of a Republican congressman who had been told that Trump sided with the rioters after the House minority leader pleaded with him to stop the attack on January 6.