Impeachment trial – Trump acquitted of inciting Capitol attack despite 7 Republicans voting to convict
All the news from Congress, the White House and Mar-a-Lago on the final day of the second Trump impeachment
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Your support makes all the difference.Donald Trump has been acquitted of inciting insurrection leading to the violent storming of the US Capitol on 6 January.
Mr Trump was not convicted despite seven Republicans joining 50 Democrats in voting ‘guilty’. A further 10 votes were needed to convict as a two-thirds majority of 67 is required under the Constitution.
The former president released a celebratory statement thanking his supporters and teasing a continuation of his MAGA movement. Meanwhile, he was eviscerated in speeches on the Senate floor by both Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who noted that Mr Trump could still face criminal or civil charges.
In a dramatic morning at the Capitol, the Senate initially voted to allow witnesses in Mr Trump’s impeachment trial in a “game-changing” move that threw proceedings into chaos. Frantic negotiations brought the trial back on track — without witnesses — and it is again expected to wrap up today.
The Trump defence team was seemingly caught off guard by the move by Democrat House managers who specifically requested Republican congresswoman Jamie Herrera Beutler be called to testify. Republicans threatened to call more than 300 witnesses in retaliation for the move.
The motion to have witnesses testify passed 55-45 on Saturday morning, with a handful of Republican lawmakers, including Lindsey Graham, siding with Democrats.
Ms Beutler’s testimony — an account of a chilling conversation between House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy and Mr Trump during the assault on the US Capitol in which the president reportedly refused to call off rioters loyal to him — was instead read into the record.
Key stories:
Melania ‘bitter and chilly’ with Trump and spending ‘hours’ in the spa, report says
Melania Trump has been “bitter and chilly” towards her husband, Donald Trump, since leaving the White House and has spent most of her time relaxing in Mar-A- Lago’s spa, CNN has reported.
Ms Trump, who appeared cheerful when leaving Washington behind on Inauguration Day last month, is apparently making the most of civilian life and has left much of the politics of the presidency behind.
“She goes to the spa, has lunch, goes to the spa (again) and has dinner with Donald on the patio,” a person familiar with her schedule told CNN. “Rinse and repeat. Every day.”
Read more here:
Melania ‘bitter and chilly’ with Trump and spending ‘hours’ in the spa, report says
‘Rinse and repeat. Every day,’ source says
Top Senate Democrats call for witnesses in Trump impeachment trial
Top Senate Democrats are calling for witnesses to testify in Donald Trump’s impeachment trial.
It comes after new details emerged of Mr Trump’s actions during the Capitol riot, which reportedly included a phone call with the a desperate House Republican leader in which the former president sided with the mob.
It will be up to House impeachment managers to decide if they will, reports Politico’s Kyle Cheney.
BREAKING: McConnell to vote to acquit Trump, but is damning of former president in email
Mitch McConnell will vote to acquit Donald Trump, but was damning of the former president’s conduct during the January 6 insurrection in an email obtained by Politico.
“Colleagues - as I have said for some time, today’s vote is a vote of conscience and I know we will all treat is as such,” the Senate minority leader wrote.
“I have been asked directly by a number of you how I intend to vote, so though it right to make that known prior to the final vote.
“While a close call, I am persuaded that impeachments are a tool primarily of removal and therefore we lack jurisdiction.”
Mr McConnell concluded by suggesting Mr Trump could be criminally prosecuted for his role in the riot.
Mitch McConnell says he will vote to ‘acquit’ Trump while calling decision a ‘close call’
Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell has confirmed that he will vote to “acquit” former President Donald Trump at his impeachment trial on Saturday, while calling the decision a “close call”.
In an email to colleagues on Saturday morning that was obtained by Politico, Mr McConnell wrote: “As I have said for come time, today’s vote is a vote of conscience and I know we will all treat it as such.
“I have been asked directly by a number of you how I intend to vote, so I thought it right to make that known prior to the vote. While a close call, I am persuaded that impeachments are a tool primary of removal and we therefore lack jurisdiction.”
Read more here:
Mitch McConnell confirms he will vote to ‘acquit’ Trump
Senate expected to conclude impeachment trial on Saturday
Trump impeachment trial resumes, with a vote expected today
The fifth day of Donald Trump’s impeachment trial has begun, with the former president’s lawyers arguing senators should vote against calling senators.
But, they say if witnesses are called, Mr Trump’s team will “need over a hundred depositions”.
Democratic congressman Jamie Raskin, the lead impeachment manager, counters that there is only one witness who the defence should really be interviewing; their own client.
McConnell assailed by critics for saying he will acquit Trump
It’s fair to say Mitch McConnell’s apparent decision to vote to acquit Donald Trump has not gone down well with critics.
The Senate minority leader in an email to colleagues, as addressed in blog posts below, wrote that it was a “close call”, but that he believed that Senate lacked the jurisdiction to try Mr Trump’s actions, because he is no longer in office.
But Mr McConnell was also damning of the former president, and appeared to suggest he could face criminal prosecution instead of conviction by Congress.
Senate votes to call witnesses to Trump impeachment
A vote as to whether to call witnesses in Donald Trump’s impeachment trial appears to have passed, after Susan Collins voted yes. It only requires one Republican to defect if all Democrats opt for witnesses, which appears to be the case.
Senate votes to allow witnesses 55-45
The Senate has now finished voting on whether to allow witnesses, with 55 voting for it compared to 45 against.
Former federal prosecutor Renato Mariotti called the move a “game changer”, coming as it does after new evidence emerged that Donald Trump sided with the insurrectionists during a phone call with senior Republican Kevin McCarthy.
It means a final vote on Mr Trump’s guilt or innocence is now very unlikely to happen today.
Moment Lindsey Graham changes vote to ‘Aye'
Five Republicans voted in favour of having witnesses appear before the Senate. Initially, they were senators Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, Mitt Romney, and Ben Sasse. Trump loyalist Lindsey Graham then changed his vote to ‘Aye ‘ bringing the number of yes votes to 55.
Mr Graham provided some context to his decision about an hour before the vote.
Democrats demand testimony over Capitol riot
Griffin Connolly reports for The Independent from Washington, DC.
Democrats demand testimony over shock Capitol riot call between Trump and McCarthy
The Senate will hear from witnesses in the impeachment trial of Donald Trump after House Democratic impeachment managers are requested testimony on Saturday from Congresswoman Jaime Herrera-Beutler of Washington regarding her knowledge of a phone conversation between House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and Donald Trump on the day of the 6 January insurrection at the Capitol.
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