Seven Republicans joined every Senate Democrat to convict Donald Trump at his second impeachment trial. That fell 10 votes short of the two-thirds required. But even if 57-43 was not be enough for a conviction, it was a strong bipartisan repudiation.
After all, the main thrust of Trump’s defense was not to defend him on the facts, but to argue that a post-presidency conviction was unconstitutional. And while some Republican senators voted against removing him based on that argument, they did not object to the case on its merits.
Indeed, after the vote, Republican leader Mitch McConnell ripped into Trump in a Senate speech, even though he voted "not guilty” based on the constitutional question. He suggested strongly that Trump should be held responsible by the judicial system.
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