WASHINGTON — The Senate voted Saturday afternoon to acquit former President Donald Trump of inciting the riot at the U.S. Capitol, with seven Republicans joining all Democratic Senators in voting to convict. It was the most impeachment defections ever from a president's party.
Acquittal appeared likely all along with a two-thirds majority required for conviction and the chamber split 50-50 between the parties.
The vote was 57-43, short of the two-thirds needed for conviction.
Republican leader Mitch McConnell said Saturday morning that he would vote to acquit Trump, according to a person familiar with his thinking. Closely watched, his view could influence others in his party.
The Senate wound up wrapping up the trial Saturday afternoon after a tumultuous morning in which House Democrats gave up a last-minute plan for witness testimony that could have significantly prolonged the trial.
During Trump's first impeachment trial in 2020, Mitt Romney was the only Republican who voted to convict, voting "guilty" on one of the two counts.
Republican Senators who voted to convict in 2nd impeachment trial
- Richard Burr
- Bill Cassidy
- Susan Collins
- Lisa Murkowski
- Mitt Romney
- Ben Sasse
- Patrick Toomey
Trump is the first president twice impeached and the only one to face a trial after leaving office. The House had impeached him on a sole charge of incitement of insurrection in deadly riot at the U.S. Capitol.
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