Following a five-month impeachment process, President Donald Trump was acquitted of impeachment by the U.S Senate on Wednesday, Feb. 5.
The impeachment process began when President Trump requested Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky to investigate 2020 presidential candidate and political rival Joe Biden and his son. House investigators accused him of threatening U.S. foreign relations for political gain and two articles for abuse of power and obstruction of congress were filed against him.
On Dec. 18. 2019, the House, led by Nancy Pelosi, successfully voted to impeach President Trump. The matter then found its way to the senate. This impeachment trial is the third presidential trial in American history as well as a third acquittal.
Last Wednesday, senators who swore to do impartial justice stood behind desks as Chief Justice John Roberts presided. After the senators stated their votes, Roberts declared Trump “be, and is hereby, acquitted of the charges,” as the Senate failed to reach the 67 votes necessary to remove the president from office.
The Senate vote was 52-48 for Article I and 53 to 47 for Article II. The tally was almost exclusively along party lines.
All but one Republican vouched for President Trump. The one Republican in question was former presidential candidate Sen. Mitt Romney, who voted to convict President Trump on Article I.
Upon being acquitted, President Trump has pulled no punches on social media against the Utah Senator.
“Had failed presidential candidate @MittRomney devoted the same energy and anger to defeating a faltering Barack Obama as he sanctimoniously does to me, he could have won the election. Read the Transcripts!” The president tweeted on Feb. 6.
His son, Donald Trump Jr., further bashed Romey, claiming he should be excommunicated from the Republican Party, later adding the hashtag #expelmitt. The state party of Utah also took to Twitter to voice their disagreement with Romney’s statement.
“The Utah Republican Party is pleased to see President Trump completely acquitted by the United States Senate. We appreciate the service rendered to our state by Utah’s two senators. As a party, we strongly disagree with the vote cast today by Senator Romney.”
Samuel J. Claude
Managing Editor