Former President Donald Trump was acquitted of inciting an insurrection in the January 6 deadly assault on the US Capitol, as Republican senators closed ranks at the former president’s second impeachment trial to prevent his conviction.
After a six-day trial, the Senate voted 57-43 on Saturday afternoon on the question of whether Trump was guilty of inciting an insurrection.
Seven Republicans joined all of the Democrats in voting to convict the president.The seven Senate Republicans who voted to convict Trump were Richard Burr, Bill Cassidy, Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, Mitt Romney, Ben Sasse and Pat Toomey
Meanwhile Trump has released a statement celebrating the Senate vote to acquit him of incitement of insurrection.
“I want to first thank my team of dedicated lawyers and others for their tireless work upholding justice and defending the 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,” the former president said.
Trump condemned the impeachment trial as “another phase of the greatest witch-hunt in the history of our country.”
The former president also nodded at his political future now that he is free to run for the White House in 2024.
“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,” Trump said.
The statement comes after impeachment managers spent days warning that Trump would threaten the safety of American democracy if he was allowed to run for public office again.
