ROANOKE, Va. – The U.S. Senate acquitted President Trump on the charges of abusing his power and obstructing Congress on Wednesday, as expected.
The final vote was 52-48 on the abuse of power charge and 53-47 on the obstruction of Congress charge.
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Two-thirds “guilty” votes were needed to reach the Constitution’s bar of high crimes and misdemeanors to convict and remove Trump from office.
Local lawmakers are reacting and releasing statements in response to the impeachment trial and President Trump’s acquittal:
Ben Cline (R), U.S. Congressman representing Virginia’s 6th district
My thoughts on the U.S. Senate’s acquittal of President Trump and the impeachment process as a whole: pic.twitter.com/t2aUceUJK1
— Congressman Ben Cline (@RepBenCline) February 5, 2020
Morgan Griffith (R), U.S. Congressman representing Virginia’s 9th district
“The Senate has finally ended an ordeal that never should have started. Democrats in the House brushed aside principles of fairness and impartiality in conducting this impeachment process, yet, in my belief, they failed to find impeachable offenses. The Senate agreed.
“President Trump was rightfully acquitted. Now it’s time to get back to work on the real issues confronting the American people.”
-- Morgan Griffith
Tim Kaine (D), U.S. Senator from Virginia
President Trump is going to be acquitted. But let's be clear: an acquittal is not an exoneration. The refusal to allow witnesses and documents—to engineer a sham rather than a trial—will put an asterisk by today in the history books.
— Tim Kaine (@timkaine) February 5, 2020
Denver Riggleman (R), U.S. Congressman representing Virginia’s 5th district
Congressman Denver Riggleman Releases Statement on the acquittal of @realDonaldTrump: pic.twitter.com/h28Lp2FVQX
— Congressman Denver Riggleman (@RepRiggleman) February 5, 2020
Mark Warner (D), U.S. Senator from Virginia
I just voted to convict the President on both articles of impeachment.
— Mark Warner (@MarkWarner) February 5, 2020
It is the Senate's constitutional responsibility to uphold the bedrock American principle that no one is above the law, not even the President and *especially not the President.*