US Senate exonerates Trump of impeachment charges
The United States Senate has cleared Donald Trump of both charges in its impeachment trial.
Thursday’s clearance has brought the impeachment launched by the House of Representatives against Trump’s actions last September, to an end Trump to an end
Trump, which Democrats were accused of abusing his power by orchestrating a pressure campaign to get Ukraine to investigate his political rival, former Vice President Joe Biden, denied any wrongdoing, repeatedly calling the impeachment a “hoax”.
In a 52-48 vote, the Senate found Trump not guilty of abusing his power of office. The Senate voted 53-47 to acquit the president on the charge of obstruction of Congress.
On the first charge, a Republican, Senator Mitt Romney, broke rank and joined all Democrats in voting to convict Trump of abuse of power. But the vote fell well short of the two-thirds majority needed to remove a president. Romney voted with his party on the obstruction of Congress charge.
“The sham impeachment attempt concocted by Democrats ended in the full vindication and exoneration of President,” White House Press Secretary, Stephanie Grisham, said
Trump’s legal defence in the Senate trial had argued that House Democrats did not sufficiently prove that Trump was guilty of the charges against him.
Several Republican senators said the House proved its case and they expressed disapproval of the president’s conduct.
“The president’s behaviour was shameful and wrong. His personal interests do not take precedence over those of this great nation,” Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski said in floor remarks.
Republican Senator Lamar Alexander said in a statement, “it was inappropriate for the president to ask a foreign leader to investigate his political opponent and to withhold United States aid to encourage that investigation.”