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US President Joe Biden urged Americans to stand up for democracy following the acquittal of Donald Trump in his second impeachment trial, saying: “This sad chapter in our history has reminded us that democracy is fragile.
In a Saturday night statement, Biden said the merits of the accusation against his predecessor over the Jan.6 Capitol riot in which five people died were not in dispute, and noted the seven Republicans who voted guilty.
“Even those who oppose the conviction, such as Senate Minority Leader McConnell, believe that Donald Trump was guilty of a ‘shameful dereliction of duty’ and ‘practically and morally responsible for provoking’ the unleashed violence in the Capitol, ”he said.
Recalling those who fought to protect democratic institutions that day, he added: “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 a responsibility as Americans, and especially as leaders, to stand up for the truth and to defeat the lies.
Biden spoke hours after Trump was acquitted by the Senate in his second impeachment trial – a verdict that underscored the influence the 45th U.S. president still has over the Republican Party even after he leaves office.
After just five days of debate in the chamber that was the scene of last month’s invasion, a divided Senate lost 10 votes below the two-thirds majority required to convict serious crimes and misdemeanors. A conviction would have allowed the Senate to vote to disqualify him from his future duties.
Seven Republicans joined with every Democrat in convicting Trump of “inciting insurgency” after his months-long quest to undo his defeat to Joe Biden and his murderous conclusion on January 6, when Congress met to formalize the election results.
The 57-43 vote was the most bipartisan support for the conviction ever in a presidential impeachment trial. The result, which was never in doubt, reflected both the still raw anger of senators at Trump’s conduct as his supporters stormed the Capitol last month – and the vice-president’s stranglehold. that the defeated president still holds on to his party.
Among the Republicans willing to challenge 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 serious warnings from the nine directors of the Democratic House, acting as prosecutors, that Trump continued to pose a threat to the nation and to democracy itself.
“If this is not a serious crime and a misdemeanor against the United States of America, then nothing is,” Congressman Jaime Raskin, the senior director, pleaded with senators in the closing moments. before they render their judgments as jurors and witnesses. “President Trump must be condemned, for the safety and democracy of our people.”
In a speech after the vote, Sen. Mitch McConnell, the minority leaders, said Trump’s conduct before the Capitol attack amounted to a “shameful dereliction of duty” by the former president, whom he said. held “practically and morally responsible for causing the events of the day”
But McConnell concluded that the Senate was never meant to serve as a “moral tribunal” and instead suggested that Trump could still face criminal charges.
“President Trump is still responsible for everything he did during his tenure,” McConnell said. “He hasn’t done anything yet.
Saturday’s vote came after debates were briefly plunged into chaos when House officials unexpectedly moved to call witnesses, in a bid to shed light on Trump’s state of mind as the assault unfolded. Caught off guard, Trump’s legal team threatened to testify “at least over 100” witnesses and said Pelosi was at the top of their list.
After a period of rampant uncertainty in which it appeared the managers’ request could extend the trial by several weeks, senators reached a deal with the prosecution and Trump’s lawyers to avoid calling witnesses. Instead, they agreed to file as evidence the written statement of a Republican lawmaker who was told Trump sided with the rioters after the parliamentary minority leader pleaded with him to stop. the attack on January 6.
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