The Washington PostDemocracy Dies in Darkness
On Feb. 13, 2021, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said former president Trump could still be held accountable within the criminal justice system. (Video: The Washington Post)

Trump acquitted by minority of Senate on charge of inciting Jan. 6 riot at Capitol

The Senate voted Saturday to acquit Donald Trump of a charge of inciting the deadly attack on the Capitol on Jan. 6, bringing the historic second impeachment trial of the former president to a close.

Fifty-seven senators voted to find Trump guilty — short of the two-thirds threshold needed for a conviction — while 43 voted to find him not guilty. Seven Republicans joined the 50 members of the Democratic caucus in voting for conviction.  
Skip to end of carousel
After his Senate acquittal, a defiant Trump called his second impeachment by the House “another phase of the greatest witch hunt in the history of our Country” and hinted at a return to national politics.
Despite voting to acquit Trump, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) delivered a speech following the vote in which he decried a “disgraceful dereliction of duty” by Trump. However, he also argued that the Senate did not have jurisdiction to try a former president.
During the trial, Democrats tried to build a case against the former president by using hours of video and audio evidence, hundreds of pages of documents and screenshots of the president’s social media postings, both before and on the day of the Jan. 6 attack.
President Biden has remained out of public view on Saturday at Camp David, the presidential retreat in Western Maryland. Aides said he plans to meet with national security advisers.
End of carousel
Skip to end of carousel
After his Senate acquittal, a defiant Trump called his second impeachment by the House “another phase of the greatest witch hunt in the history of our Country” and hinted at a return to national politics.
Despite voting to acquit Trump, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) delivered a speech following the vote in which he decried a “disgraceful dereliction of duty” by Trump. However, he also argued that the Senate did not have jurisdiction to try a former president.
During the trial, Democrats tried to build a case against the former president by using hours of video and audio evidence, hundreds of pages of documents and screenshots of the president’s social media postings, both before and on the day of the Jan. 6 attack.
President Biden has remained out of public view on Saturday at Camp David, the presidential retreat in Western Maryland. Aides said he plans to meet with national security advisers.
End of carousel

Live coverage contributors 15