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The circus in the Senate is officially over with both articles of impeachment being voted down this afternoon.
Now, this was not a strict party-line vote on the first article of impeachment, which was abuse of power. Senator Mitt Romney was the sole Republican who voted to convict on this article.
Citing his deep faith and oath to God, Romney said he asked whether Trump’s actions to pressure Ukraine amounted to a high crime and misdemeanor.”
“Yes, they did,” Romney said in a speech on the Senate floor.”
“The president is guilty of an appalling abuse of public trust,” he said.”
An emotional Romney got choked up announcing his decision and took a long pause to regain his composure.”
“What he did was not perfect. No, it was a flagrant assault on our electoral rights, our national security and our fundamental values,” Romney said. “Corrupting an election to keep oneself in office is perhaps the most abusive and destructive violation of one’s oath of office that I can imagine.”
Romney was the only senator who broke ranks, as both Joe Manchin of West Virginia, or Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, voted to convict on both charges. Romney only voted for article one, not article two (which was the extremely lame “obstruction of Congress” charge). And it’s telling that those Republican senators that were considered “swing votes” (Collins, Murkowski, and Alexander) voted to acquit. Romney, in deep-red Utah, is in a “safe” seat with over four more years in his current Senate term. He could pretty much do what he wanted. It will be up to the voters of Utah in 2024 to decide if they remember this vote.
Once it was clear where the supposed “swing” votes would go, the end result was the foregone conclusion that we were all prepared for: acquittal.
BREAKING: The Senate votes to acquit President Trump on both impeachment charges over his Ukraine pressure campaign. Republican Mitt Romney is the only senator to break with his party. https://t.co/S71jxedqux
— The Associated Press (@AP) February 5, 2020
The roll call was done, both Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer got up to thank the Senate staff and Capitol Police, and then McConnell singled out Chief Justice John Roberts for special thanks, and the “golden gavel.”
Mitch McConnell thanked Chief Justice John Roberts for presiding over the impeachment trial and presented him with a golden gavel typically given to senators after they have served for 100 hours. “I think we can agree that the chief justice put in his due, and then some.” pic.twitter.com/AviEX3FVr6
— USA TODAY (@USATODAY) February 5, 2020
And with that, the Senate court of impeachment was closed. And the president had something to tweet, of course.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 5, 2020
I have to admit, I laughed.
Unfortunately, the close of the impeachment trial probably won’t be the end of the shenanigans, as now both houses of Congress will likely pursue subpoenas for John Bolton in the House, and Hunter Biden in the Senate. Meanwhile, the Iowa caucus results continue to be a dumpster fire for the Democrats. Between that, watching their dreams of impeachment shatter and fall way short of conviction in the Senate, and being called out for all their dumb stunts during the State of the Union, the Democrats are having a hell of a week, and it’s only Wednesday.
Featured image via Pixabay, cropped, Pixabay license
Skillyboo says: No it’s not. Round 2 is starting with subpoenas. Bolton is first. They, democrats, have nothing to run on so this is it.
Joe in PNG says: Heh- that would be a UUUUUGE! favor to the Republicans if they try, try, try again.
Now it’s just petty party petulance, and pretty obvious to people at that.
GWB says: I’m kinda pissed, though, that McConnell didn’t take my advice and make them vote on whether or not the charges even rose to the level of “high crimes and misdemeanors”.
And, though I think Romney is a “milksop weasel” (and I’m being very kind), at least he didn’t vote “Scottish rules of cricket” or something, ala Specter.
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