Donald Trump acquitted in historic second impeachment trial
Democrats failed to get enough Republicans to convict him
Former US President Donald Trump has been acquitted by the Senate on the charge of inciting the 6 January riot.
Democrats failed to get enough Republicans to convict Trump.
The Senate voted to acquit Trump 57-43, with seven Republicans (Senators Sasse, Romney, Burr, Collins, Murkowski, Toomey and Cassidy) joining Democrats on the charge of incitement.
Democrats needed two-thirds of the Senate to vote guilty to convict.
Impeachment charges are political, not criminal. An impeachment acquittal essentially means the Senate did not find cause to remove a president from office.
Of course, Trump is no longer in office. But if Trump had been convicted, the Senate could also have voted to prevent the former president from ever holding office again.
The Democratic-led House of Representatives approved the article of impeachment on 13 January, with the support of 10 Republicans.
Read more updates of the trial here
What the acquittal means for Trump
Trump once again avoided conviction by the US Senate because his fellow Republicans, by and large, stuck by his side.
That, at its most basic level, is a win for the president. He is still eligible to run for president again in 2024, if he so chooses.
His base, by all indications, is still largely intact.
Here's what Trump said after his second acquittal
Former President Trump just released a statement following the Senate vote to acquit him in his second impeachment trial.
Part of the statement read:
"It is a sad commentary on our times that one political party in America is given a free pass to denigrate the rule of law, defame law enforcement, cheer mobs, excuse rioters, and transform justice into a tool of political vengeance, and persecute, blacklist, cancel and suppress all people and viewpoints with whom or which they disagree. I always have, and always will, be 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."
Trump also thanked his legal team and "all of the United States Senators and Members of Congress who stood proudly for the Constitution we all revere and for the sacred legal principles at the heart of our country," in the statement.
