Donald Trump Acquitted In Second Impeachment Trial, ‘Badge Of Honor’

In an unsurprising move, the Senate voted to acquit former President Donald Trump on Incitement of Insurrection charges for the Jan. 6 riots at the Capitol.

Seven Republicans joined all 50 Democratic Senators to vote to convict the former President in his second impeachment trial, the New York Times reports, for a bipartisan 57-43 vote, which fell short of the 67 votes that were needed for a two-thirds majority. The result isn’t surprising after Republican Senators often spoke out as the House Impeachment managers made their case throughout the week, criticizing the proceedings, or outwardly saying they would vote to acquit, including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.

The vote came even as Senators themselves experienced the attack at the Capitol, and video showed how close many prominent members of both parties—including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senator Mitt Romney and then Vice-President Mike Pence came to rioters before escaping.

The vote also means that the Senate will lose the ability to bar Trump from ever holding future federal offices, freeing him to run for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024 and, potentially, win the second term he claimed had been stolen from him, even after Biden’s victory was certified, and which his remarks helped spur on the crowd of supporters who attacked the Capitol building after attending a “Stop the Steal” rally Trump held at The Ellipse.

The Republican Senators who sided with Democrats to vote for impeachment were Richard Burr of North Carolina, Susan Collins of Maine, Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Romney, Ben Sasse of Nebraska and Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania, according to NBC News.

The former President has yet to make a statement about his victory, but his sons, Donald Jr and Eric, both took to Twitter after the acquittal to share their joy over his winning an acquittal twice.