The U.S. Senate acquitted former President Donald Trump Saturday on an impeachment charge of inciting an insurrection related to the Jan. 6 breach of the Capitol.
Sixty-seven votes were needed to convict him—two-thirds of the total—but only 57 senators voted in favor of the conviction. The month-long process has ended with Trump being the only president in U.S. history to be impeached and acquitted twice.
The seven GOP senators who voted to convict Trump on Saturday were Sens. 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.
Franklin Graham, a staunch supporter of the former president, tweeted out his thoughts on Saturday: “The US Senate finally acquitted former President Donald J. Trump of all charges. Now that this is over, I hope they will get to work on solving the problems that are facing our country and are important to the lives of most Americans.”
The US Senate finally acquitted former President Donald J. Trump of all charges. Now that this is over, I hope they will get to work on solving the problems that are facing our country and are important to the lives of most Americans. https://t.co/j1DcIoMfBL
— Franklin Graham (@Franklin_Graham) February 13, 2021
Prominent Republican leaders in the Senate stepped forward with statements upon the conclusion of the trial:
Senator Ted Cruz, R-Texas, expressed his support for Trump, saying, “Donald Trump used heated language, but he did not urge anyone to commit acts of violence.” He then condemned the rioters involved in the Capitol attack.
“Unfortunately, this impeachment trial did nothing to bring the domestic terrorists who committed this heinous attack to justice,” Cruz said.
Florida Republican Sen. Marco Rubio called for anger to desist and for America to focus on confronting the “serious tests” it will face in the future.
“I voted to acquit former President Trump because I will not allow my anger over the criminal attack of January 6 nor the political intimidation from the left to lead me into supporting a dangerous constitutional precedent,” he said in a statement. “The election is over. A new President is in the White House and a new Congress has been sworn in. Let history, and if necessary the courts, judge the events of the past.”
“We should be focused on the serious challenges of the present and preparing our country to confront the serious tests it will face in the future,” he concluded.
Sen. Tommy Tuberville of Alabama echoed these sentiments in a series of tweets.
“After hearing the arguments presented, I voted to not convict for a number of reasons, including the fact that I don’t think the Senate has the authority to try a private citizen.
“There are no winners today. The American people lost. Our country is hurting from a global pandemic and rather than addressing the serious needs of our constituents we wasted a full week on an unconstitutional trial.
“Now it’s time for us as a country to move on. We need to remember that at the end of the day we’re on the same team: the American team. Both sides can do better at remembering that.”
Now it’s time for us as a country to move on. We need to remember that at the end of the day we’re on the same team: the American team. Both sides can do better at remembering that.
— Senator Tommy Tuberville (@SenTuberville) February 13, 2021
Trump issued a statement, which CBN News included in its report, thanking his supporters and legal team for their dedication. He also challenged Americans to work toward the “bright, radiant and limitless American future.”
The statement concluded, “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. We remain one people, one family and one glorious nation under God, and it’s our responsibility to preserve this magnificent inheritance for our children and for generations of Americans to come. May God bless all of you, and may God forever bless the United States of America.”
As anticipated, House Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., blasted Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and what she called a “cowardly group of Republicans” for Trump’s acquittal, Fox News reported. {eoa}
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