Trump Acquitted by the Senate… Again

Aiden Hess, Editor

Donald Trump was acquitted by the Senate on two separate occasions making him the most acquitted President in US History.

On Saturday Feb. 13th, 2021 Former President Donald J. Trump was acquitted by the United States Senate as impeachment efforts fell ten votes short of the 67 needed to convict. All 50 Democrat Senators voted guilty along with seven Republicans who joined the Democrats in voting guilty. The remaining 43 Republican Senators voted not guilty surpassing the 34 vote threshold needed for an acquittal to occur. Democrats made their case for impeachment claiming that President Trump had incited the insurrection pertaining to the events that took place at the US Capitol Building on Jan. 6th, 2021. 

“He summoned his supporters to Washington, assembled them on the ellipse, whipped them into a frenzy and directed them at the Capitol,” said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY).

Democrats also claimed that Trump had used the phrase “fight like hell” in his speech prior to the storming of the capital to incite violence. Using the term “fight” is common as a part of political rhetoric and is often not intended to physically fight. The phrase “Fight for $15 [minimum wage]” is a similar example of using the word fight as political lingo. Senate Republicans answered back to the Democrats claims by citing that the impeachment trial was unconstitutional.

“It is totally unconstitutional and it is incredibly selfish on the part of the Democrats who are pursuing their own personal political vendettas here,” said Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO).

The trial also struck up controversy about its legitimacy and whether or not it was constitutional. President Trump was impeached by the House of Representatives in his final few days in office, but the Senate Impeachment Trial occured after he had already left the White House on Jan. 20th, 2021 as the incoming Biden Administration had been sworn in. Trump’s acquittal also resulted in him keeping his eligibility to run for President again, if he chooses to do so in the future. The acquittal handed down by the Senate has certainly been one last final twist in a rather interesting Trump Presidency.