President Joe Biden issued a statement on Saturday, hours after the U.S. Senate voted to absolve former President Donald Trump of an impeachment article for “inciting an insurrection” in connection with the January 6 US Capitol riot .
“Although the final vote did not lead to a conviction, the content of the indictment is not in dispute,” wrote Biden.
“Even those who oppose the conviction, such as Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell, believe that Donald Trump was guilty of a ‘shameful neglect of duty’ and ‘practically and morally responsible for causing’ the violence unleashed on Capitol Hill. “
TRUMP ACQUIRED IN THE SECOND IMPEACHMENT JUDGMENT UNDER CHARGE FROM JAN. 6 CAPITOL RIOT
Here is the full Biden statement from the White House website:
It has been almost two weeks since Jill and I paid our respects to Capitol Police officer Brian Sicknick, who honored the Rotunda after losing his life by protecting the Capitol from a violent and turbulent mob on January 6, 2021.
Today, 57 senators – including a record 7 Republicans – voted to declare former President Trump guilty of inciting that deadly insurrection in our own democracy. The Senate vote followed the bipartisan vote to challenge it by the House of Representatives. Although the final vote did not lead to a conviction, the content of the indictment is not up for debate. Even those who oppose the sentencing, such as Senate McConnell minority leader, believe Donald Trump was guilty of a “shameful neglect of duty” and “practically and morally responsible for causing” the violence unleashed on Capitol Hill.
Tonight, I am thinking about those who bravely stood guard that January day. I am thinking of all those who lost their lives, all those whose lives were threatened, and all those who still live with the terror that they lived that day. And I am thinking of those who have shown courage to protect the integrity of our democracy – Democrats and Republicans, election officials and judges, elected officials and election officials – before and after the elections.
This sad chapter in our history has reminded us that democracy is fragile. That must always be defended. That we must always be vigilant. This violence and extremism have no place in America. And that each of us has a duty and responsibility, as Americans, and especially as leaders, to defend the truth and defeat lies.
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That is how we ended this uncivil war and healed the very soul of our nation. That is the task that lies ahead. And it is a task that we must carry out together. Like the United States of America.