Defeated former President Trump escapes conviction for the 2nd time

Defeated former President Trump has escaped conviction for the 2nd time. US senators voted 57-43 to acquit him of charges relating to inciting the capitol riots on January 6th.

A two thirds majority or 67 votes were needed to find him guilty. A total of seven Republican senators voted to convict the former President: Richard Burr, Lisa Murkowski, Susan Collins, Mitt Romney, Ben Sasse, Bill Cassidy, and Pat Toomey. All 50 Democrats voted to convict.

This now means that the defeated former President can run for federal office again if he wishes.

Speaking to Newsweek magazine Chris Edelson, an assistant professor in the Washington, D.C., school’s Department of Government said Trump’s acquittal “sends a dangerous lesson” to the former president and “more broadly to others who might take similar actions.”