Senate Trial

Senate Votes 55-45 to Call Witnesses, Then Reverses After McConnell Threatens Delay

| Importance: 8/10

In a dramatic twist on the final day of Trump’s second impeachment trial, the Senate voted 55-45 on Saturday morning, February 13, 2021, to call witnesses—specifically Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler of Washington, who possessed crucial testimony about a January 6 phone call between Trump and House …

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Senate Acquits Trump 57-43 Despite Bipartisan Majority Finding Him Guilty

| Importance: 10/10

On February 13, 2021, the Senate voted 57-43 to acquit former President Donald Trump on the charge of incitement of insurrection, with the vote falling ten short of the two-thirds majority (67 votes) required for conviction. Despite the acquittal, the vote represented the most bipartisan …

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McConnell Says Trump "Practically and Morally Responsible" Minutes After Voting to Acquit

| Importance: 10/10

Minutes after voting to acquit Donald Trump in his second impeachment trial, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell delivered an extraordinary and scathing floor speech declaring: “There’s no question, none, that President Trump is practically and morally responsible for provoking the …

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Impeachment Managers Present Devastating 13-Minute Video Compilation of January 6 Attack

| Importance: 9/10

On the second day of Trump’s impeachment trial, House managers led by Jamie Raskin, Stacey Plaskett, and Eric Swalwell presented a devastating 13-minute video compilation synchronizing Trump’s January 6 rally speech with the violent assault on the Capitol that followed. The video …

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Second Impeachment Trial Begins with Constitutional Debate on Trying Former President

| Importance: 9/10

The Senate’s second impeachment trial of Donald Trump began on February 9, 2021, with a four-hour constitutional debate centered on the fundamental question: can the Senate try a former president? In a 56-44 vote, the Senate affirmed that the trial was constitutional and could proceed, with …

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Pelosi Transmits Impeachment Article to Senate After Biden Inauguration

| Importance: 9/10

On January 25, 2021, exactly two weeks after the House voted to impeach Donald Trump and five days after President Biden’s inauguration, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi transmitted the single article of impeachment—charging Trump with “incitement of insurrection”—to the Senate. The nine …

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Senate Acquits Trump Despite Proven Abuse of Power; Romney Only Republican to Convict

| Importance: 10/10

The Senate voted to acquit President Donald Trump on both impeachment articles on February 5, 2020, despite overwhelming evidence that he abused his power by pressuring Ukraine to announce investigations into Joe Biden while withholding military aid. On Article I (Abuse of Power), the vote was …

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Senate Votes 51-49 to Block Witnesses in Impeachment Trial, Ensuring Trump Acquittal

| Importance: 10/10

The Senate voted 51-49 on January 31, 2020 to block witness testimony and document production in President Trump’s impeachment trial, making it the first Senate impeachment trial in American history conducted without witnesses or new evidence. Only two Republicans—Mitt Romney of Utah and Susan …

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Bolton Book Manuscript Reveals Trump Directly Tied Ukraine Aid to Biden Investigation

| Importance: 10/10

The New York Times obtained portions of former National Security Advisor John Bolton’s unpublished book manuscript on January 26, 2020, revealing that President Trump explicitly told Bolton in August 2019 that he wanted to continue freezing military aid to Ukraine until Ukrainian officials …

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Pelosi Transmits Impeachment Articles to Senate After 28-Day Strategic Delay

| Importance: 9/10

Speaker Nancy Pelosi transmitted the articles of impeachment against President Trump to the Senate on January 16, 2020, ending a 28-day delay strategy designed to pressure Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to establish fair trial procedures. In a solemn ceremony in the Speaker’s office, …

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Senate Acquits President Clinton on Both Impeachment Articles

| Importance: 8/10

The U.S. Senate votes to acquit President Bill Clinton on both articles of impeachment following a five-week trial. On the perjury charge (Article I), the Senate votes 45-55, with 45 Democrats and 10 Republicans voting “not guilty.” On the obstruction of justice charge (Article II), the …

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