Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell: “Trump is still liable for everything he did while he’s in office.”

Republican leaders immediately try to draw a line against Donald Trump, after ensuring that Trump is acquitted on the charge of “incitement to insurrection” over the attack on the US Capitol.

As expected, Trump escaped conviction on Saturday after a brief trial, with the 57-43 vote to punish falling 10 votes of a 2/3 majority.

However, seven Republicans joined all 50 Democrats — the most bipartisan impeachment trial vote in US history.

The seven were Richard Burr of North Carolina, Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Mitt Romney of Utah, Ben Sasse of Nebraska, and Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania. Burr shifted his position, after voting on Tuesday to dismiss the proceeding as unconstitutional.

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Burr explained the shift, “The evidence is compelling that President Trump is guilty of inciting an insurrection against a coequal branch of government and that the charge rises to the level of high Crimes and Misdemeanors.”

Sen. Collins added, “His actions to interfere with the peaceful transition of power – the hallmark of our constitution and our American democracy – were an abuse of power and constitute grounds for conviction.”

The lead House impeachment manager, Rep. Jamie Raskin, summarized, “The bottom line is that, we convinced a big majority in the Senate of our case.”

McConnell: Trump Can Be Prosecuted for Crime

The Senate’s top Republican, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, completed his four-year protection of Trump with a vote to acquit. His decision — coming less than three weeks after saying that Trump’s “lies” had “provoked” followers into the Capitol attack in which five people died — ensured that the required 17 GOP Senators did not bring a conviction.

McConnell also blocked any trial before January 20, when Trump left office — thus setting up his acquittal vote on the ground that a former President cannot be tried by the Senate.

But minutes after the vote, McConnell spoke on the Senate floor of Trump’s “disgraceful dereliction of duty” and guilt over incitement:

There is no question — none — that President Trump is practically and morally responsible for provoking the events of the day. The leader of the free world cannot spend weeks thundering that shadowy forces are stealing our country and then feign surprise when people believe him and do reckless things.

McConnell then pointedly indicated that Trump can now be tried in a criminal court: “[He] is still liable for everything he did while he’s in office. He didn’t get away with anything yet.”

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Trump’s Pledge to Fight

In a written statement from his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, Trump pledged an attempt to take over the Republican Party.

Expressed no remorse for the Capitol attack, the culmination of his months-long attempt to overturn the November election, he proclaimed, “In the months ahead, I have much to share with you, and I look forward to continuing our incredible journey together to achieve American greatness for all of our people.”

However, multiple sources said that Trump’s bravado hid concern about possible criminal cases over his role in the attack.

“He’s worried about it,” said “one advisor close to Trump”.

Highlighting the battle at state level, the Louisiana Republican Party’s executive committee immediately censured Sen. Cassidy over his vote to convict.

The motion follows similar actions by the Wyoming GOP against Rep. Liz Cheney over her vote to impeach, and by the Arizona GOP against Gov. Doug Ducey and other Republican officials for their refusal to support Trump’s attempts to overturn the election.

Fox TV signalled that it would back Trump’s campaign against Republicans whom he dislikes.

Sen. Murkowski responded to the attack of disloyalty, “If I can’t say what I believe that our president should stand for, then why should I ask Alaskans to stand with me?”

“Democracy is Fragile”

President Joe Biden quoted McConnell’s remarks in his statement, “This sad chapter in our history has reminded us that democracy is fragile.”

But Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer drove home the Republican dilemma after McConnell led the GOP vote to acquit.

Pelosi rejected a censure resolution as letting “cowardly senators” off the hook and constituting “a slap in the face of the Constitution”: “We censure people for using stationery for the wrong purpose. We don’t censure people for inciting insurrection.”

She explained, “It’s pathetic that Leader McConnell kept the Senate shut down so that the Article of Impeachment couldn’t be received and used that as his excuse for voting to acquit.”

“Donald Trump’s incitement of insurrection against our Democracy put Senators, Members of Congress, staff and heroic law enforcement officers in mortal danger. It is the most grievous constitutional crime ever committed by a president and is clearly deserving of conviction….

I salute the Republican Senators who voted their conscience and for our Country. Other Senate Republicans’ refusal to hold Trump accountable for igniting a violent insurrection to cling to power will go down as one of the darkest days and most dishonorable acts in our nation’s history.

Schumer echoed:

Five years ago, Republican senators lamented what might become of their party if Donald Trump became their presidential nominee and standard-bearer.

Just look at what has happened. Look at what Republicans have been forced to defend. Look at what Republicans have chosen to forgive.