The Impeachment Trial of Donald Trump: Everything We Know So Far

By: Adam Beam 1/30/21

Photo Courtesy: Carol Guzy/ Zuma Wire

While it has been just over a week since President Joe Biden was sworn into office, all eyes continue to remain on former President Donald Trump who awaits his trial for impeachment for a second time.

This comes after the attack on the US Capitol by a mob of pro-Trump supporters. Many government officials believe it was sparked by President Trump’s refusal to accept the 2020 election results. The attack resulted in the deaths of 5 people.

The impeachment of President Trump was filed by the House of Representatives, with a majority vote of 217. 10 of the votes were by Republicans, who felt that President Trump needs to be held responsible for inciting an insurrection. Adam Kinzinger of Illinois, John Katko of New York, and Liz Cheney are just a few Republicans who voted for impeachment.

It now comes down to the Senate, where things have become much more divisive. Senate Republicans have spent the past week attempting to postpone or cancel the trial all together. This past Tuesday, the Senate was able to stop a Republican led effort to label the trial as unconstitutional. It was dismissed by a vote of 55 to 45.

One of the Republican senators who voted against this push by their party was Susan Collins, who said, “I think it’s pretty obvious from the vote today that it is extraordinarily unlikely that the president will be convicted, just do the math.”

The other four Republican senators to cross the line include Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Mitt Romney of Utah, Ben Sasse of Nebraska and Patrick J. Toomey of Pennsylvania.

President Trump's eyes remain on Senator Mitch McConnell, who has spoken through advisors and private messages to colleagues that he would support the move to impeachment.

McConnell continues to support the Republicans push to throw out impeachment claims, and was one of the figures pushing to the delay the trial that will now take place on Tuesday, February 9th.

As of right now, all signs are leaning towards former President Trump being acquitted once again, which was the outcome of his first impeachment trial just over a year ago, and in order for the President to be found guilty, it would require two-thirds vote, or 67 votes in order for there to be any conviction made.