Impeachment Briefing: The Senate Acquits Trump
Feb. 13, 2021
voted
57-43 in favor of convicting him not enough to meet the required two-thirds majority.
Democrats needed 17 Republicans to vote with them to convict Mr. Trump of inciting an insurrection. In the end, they got seven: Senators Richard M. Burr of North Carolina, Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Mitt Romney of Utah, Ben Sasse of Nebraska and Patrick J. Toomey of Pennsylvania.
The House impeachment managers unexpectedly called for witnesses and then abruptly dropped the request, after striking a deal with Mr. Trump’s defense team to add to the trial record a written statement from Representative Jaime Herrera Beutler of Washington a Republican who said she had been told that Mr. Trump sided with the rioters as they were attacking the Capitol.
Impeachment Briefing: A Combative Defense
Feb. 12, 2021
What happened today
Lawyers for Donald J. Trump delivered a short defense, using just three of their allotted 16 hours.
His lawyers claimed, contrary to facts, that Mr. Trump never glorified violence, and they falsely equated his conduct to Democrats’ use of combative rhetoric.
Senators from both parties submitted written questions that were answered by the House managers and defense lawyers for Mr. Trump.
In breaks, Republican senators spoke positively of the defense. Absent any major shifts, it appears unlikely that there will be enough Senate votes to convict Mr. Trump.
Officer Eugene Goodman, hailed as a hero for diverting the mob and rescuing senators from peril on Jan. 6, was given a standing ovation and will receive the Congressional Gold Medal.