Senate Acquits Trump in Historic Impeachment Trial
The Senate ended the impeachment trial against Trump today, Feb. 5, by acquitting him on both articles of impeachment against him. The charges included abuse of power and obstruction of justice.
For Article I, 48 senators voted guilty while 52 voted not guilty. For Article II, 47 senators supported a guilty verdict and 53 voted not guilty, according to NPR.
The one-person difference between the two votes is due to Republican Sen. Mitt Romney, who voted Trump guilty on Article I. Romney cited his Mormon faith as the reason for voting guilty on that charge.
“I am profoundly religious. My faith is at the heart of who I am,” Romney said. He paused to regain composure before continuing: “I take an oath before God as enormously consequential. I knew from the outset that being tasked with judging the president, the leader of my own party, would be the most difficult decision I have ever faced. I was not wrong. … The president is guilty of an appalling abuse of public trust.”
Romney’s vote allegedly makes him the first senator in American history to vote against a president of his own party during an impeachment trial.
For Trump to be removed from office, 67 votes of guilty were needed per article.
Shortly after the acquittal was official, Trump tweeted that he planned to make an announcement tomorrow, Feb. 6, regarding the outcome.
“I will be making a public statement tomorrow at 12:00pm from the @WhiteHouse to discuss our Country’s VICTORY on the Impeachment Hoax!” he tweeted.
In response to Trump’s acquittal, several prominent conservative Christian influencers voiced their approval of the Senate’s decision.
Sarah Huckabee Sanders tweeted: “President @realDonaldTrump acquitted, vindicated, and more strongly positioned than ever to win re-election. Nice try Democrats, but you are no match for our President Donald J. Trump. #TrumpPence2020 #KAG“
Terrorism expert and Christian activist Brigitte Gabriel wrote: “It’s OVER!! President Trump has been ACQUITTED of BOTH Articles of Impeachment!! Thank You to the US Senate for finally ending this SHAM!! Now let’s get back to making America great again! God Bless this President and God Bless the USA!”
Vice President Mike Pence simply tweeted: “PRESIDENT @realDonaldTrump“
