WASHINGTON — Former President Donald J. Trump was acquitted in his second impeachment trial after Democrats failed to secure the necessary Republican votes to convict. In a 57-43 vote, only seven Republican senators joined all 50 Democrats in voting to impeach Trump. Seventeen Republican votes were required for a two-thirds majority.
The seven Republicans who voted to convict were Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT), Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC), Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), Sen. Ben Sasse (R-NE), Sen. Pat Toomey (R-PA), and Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK).
Following the acquittal, Trump released a statement expressing gratitude to his legal team, lawmakers, and supporters. He said, “I want to first thank my team of dedicated lawyers and others for their tireless work upholding justice and defending truth.”
Trump also commended senators and members of Congress who, he said, “stood proudly for the Constitution we all revere and for the sacred legal principles at the heart of our country. Our cherished Constitutional Republic was founded on the impartial rule of law, the indispensable safeguard for our liberties, our rights and our freedoms.”
In the statement, Trump criticized Democrats, claiming one political party has “denigrate[d] the rule of law, defame[d] law enforcement, cheer[ed] mobs, excuse[d] rioters, and transform[ed] justice into a tool of political vengeance.” He pledged to remain a “champion for the unwavering rule of law, the heroes of law enforcement, and the right of Americans to peacefully and honorably debate the issues of the day without malice and without hate.”
Describing the impeachment as “yet another phase of the greatest witch hunt in the history of our Country,” Trump noted the nearly 75 million Americans who voted for him in the 2020 election. He also thanked supporters for defending “these important principles in these very difficult and challenging times.”
Trump concluded by affirming that his “historic, patriotic and beautiful movement to Make America Great Again has only just begun” and outlined plans to continue advancing his vision for the country. “Together there is nothing we cannot accomplish,” he wrote.
With the acquittal, Trump retains the legal pathway to run for re-election in 2024.
