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:
Agreement reached on Rep Beutler’s testimony - no witnesses will appear
An agreement has been reached on witnesses. Trump attorney Bruce Castor says they’ve agreed to submit Ms Beutler’s statement into the record. Raskin says the managers are “prepared to enter into this agreement” without calling her as a witness.
Mr Raskin then read out the statement, entering it into the record.
There will be no witnesses heard in the chamber as part of the trial.
Trump’s ‘chilling’ call read into evidence as Senate moves into final stage of trial without witnesses
The House Democratic impeachment managers have backed away from their request to hear testimony from Congresswoman Jaime Herrera-Beutler about the heated phone call between House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and Donald Trump during the insurrection at the US Capitol on 6 January.
SenateDemocrats and Republicans as well as the impeachment managers and Mr Trump’s defence counsel worked out a last-minute agreement on Saturday to read Ms Herrera-Beutler’s statement from the previous night about the Trump-McCarthy call into the record so the trial could proceed to closing arguments and a final vote.
Griffin Connolly has the latest from Washington, DC.
Trump’s ‘chilling’ call read into evidence as Senate moves into final stage of trial without witnesses
The House Democratic impeachment managers have backed away from their request to hear testimony from Congresswoman Jaime Herrera-Beutler about the heated phone call between House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and Donald Trump during the insurrection at the US Capitol on 6 January.
Former senator weighs in
Former Missouri Senator Claire McCaskill gives her take on what just happened in the trial.
“I realize the optics but remember they just prevented Trump’s lawyers from pretending that Trump was trying to stop violence. They just stipulated he was justifying the INSURRECTION WHILE RIOT GOING ON.”
She adds: “And as much as we hate it, witnesses were not going to change votes. Be mad at the people that won’t convict, not those that are trying to convict.”
Meanwhile at Mar-a-Lago
If you’ve missed his commentary on Twitter and were wondering how Donald Trump has enjoyed the past five days' developments in his second Senate trial, the answer is reported to be that he has watched with mounting anger.
Alex Woodward reports.
Trump ‘getting angrier’ as trial continues amid questions over his legal team, reports say
Defence has reportedly struggled through the week over internal strategy and ex-president’s criticism
Highlights from initial closing argument by Rep Jamie Raskin
Despite being at centre of trial evidence, Pence stays silent
Former vice president Mike Pence has stayed quiet on Donald Trump’s historic second impeachment trial, despite becoming a focal point of prosecutors’ arguments for conviction.
James Crump reports.
Pence stays silent despite footage of his riot evacuation a focus of Trump’s impeachment trial
Footage of the former vice president being rushed to safety is part of prosecution’s case
A second objection during closing arguments
An objection has been raised to a slide played by Rep Madeleine Dean in her closing argument, the argument being that they are introducing evidence not previously played in the trial.
It appears Democrats are arguing that the slide was submitted as part of the evidence but may not have been played earlier.
House managers: Trump ‘willfully betrayed us’
Closing arguments resume
It appears the slide was allowed.
Ms Dean resumes with a chuckle: “I have to say that of all the trials I have ever been a part of, this is certainly one of them.”
Who is Jaime Herrera Beutler?
Her name was at the centre of the shock twist in Donald Trump’s second impeachment trial. Louise Hall explains why Washington congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler was thrust into the national spotlight on Friday evening.
Who is congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler?
Jaime Herrera Beutler is a Republican representative from Washington state, and one of 10 GOP House members who voted to impeach Donald Trump
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