WASHINGTON – Enough senators have cast “not guilty” votes to acquit Donald Trump of inciting the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. The vote will give the former president an historic second acquittal in an impeachment trial.
Trump is the first president to be impeached twice, and he is also now twice acquitted as the majority of Republicans defended his actions. The Senate voted 57-43 that Trump is “not guilty” of incitement. Two thirds of the Senate, or 67 votes, was needed for conviction.
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Former President Donald Trump is welcoming his second impeachment acquittal and says his movement “has only just begun.”
Democratic senators from Michigan were among the U.S. lawmakers who cast “guilty” votes on Saturday in hopes of charging Trump with incitement. Those lawmakers issued the following statements after Trump was acquitted.
U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, from Michigan
“While the U.S. Senate did not achieve the two-thirds vote necessary to convict former President Donald Trump, this will go down in history as the largest bipartisan vote ever to hold a President accountable for High Crimes and Misdemeanors under our Constitution.
“Former President Donald Trump spent months pushing a big lie – that the November election was stolen from him. He inspired, encouraged, and incited a deadly insurrection at the U.S. Capitol in order to stop the certification of the Electoral College vote. And then he did nothing to stop the violence, which caused massive injury and loss of life.
“This wasn’t just an attack on a building. It was an attack on all of the people who work there. It was an attack on our form of government. It was an attack on our Constitution. It was an attack on We the People.
“This bipartisan vote sent an important message: In America, no President is above the law. And inciting violence against the government is illegal and dangerous.
“Now, as a nation, we must move forward. We must do everything we can to bring down the temperature of our debates, find common ground on issues we care about, and reduce the divide in our families and communities. And we must continue to strive for accountability and justice. Our democracy demands no less.”
Sen. Stabenow
U.S. Senator Gary Peters, from Michigan
“As an officer in the U.S. Navy Reserve and as a U.S. Senator, I took an oath to protect and defend the U.S. Constitution. After carefully listening to all the evidence presented in this trial, it is overwhelmingly clear that Donald Trump violated his oath of office by inciting a violent, deadly attack on the U.S. Capitol and our democracy.
“The facts show that Trump intentionally promoted false conspiracies — including here in Michigan — that provoked an assault on the peaceful transfer of power. The bipartisan vote to hold Trump accountable in both the House and the Senate reflects the gravity of his misconduct.
“My focus remains on the challenges that the Senate must address — first and foremost is the need for a robust COVID relief package that addresses the health and economic crisis Michigan is facing. We must provide more support to help struggling families and small businesses, speed up vaccine distribution, give resources to help schools safely reopen and help communities on the frontlines, so they are not forced to lay off health professionals, teachers, firefighters and law enforcement officers.”
Sen. Peters
Another congressman from Michigan also issued a statement Saturday.
U.S. Representative Dan Kildee, Michigan’s 5th congressional district
“History will ultimately judge the 43 Senate Republicans who chose loyalty to Donald Trump over the best interest of our country. Their legacy will forever be stained by Donald Trump’s incitement of violence that killed five people, including members of law enforcement. While the former president was not convicted today, I am confident that he, and his Republican enablers, will be held accountable by the American people.”
Rep. Kildee
President Joe Biden
Read more: The Latest: McConnell votes to acquit, then condemns Trump