“This sad chapter in our history has reminded us that democracy is fragile. That it must always be defended. That we must always be vigilant. That violence and extremism have no place in America. And that each of us has a duty and a responsibility. responsibility of Americans, and especially as leaders, to defend the truth and defeat the lies, “said Biden in a statement.
The Senate acquitted Trump in his second impeachment trial on Saturday, voting that the former president was not guilty of inciting the January 6 deadly riot at the United States Capitol.
“The Senate vote followed a bipartisan vote to challenge it by the House of Representatives,” said Biden. “Although the final vote did not lead to a conviction, the content of the indictment is not in dispute. Even those who oppose the conviction, such as Senate minority leader McConnell, believe Donald Trump was guilty of ‘dishonorable abandonment of duty. ‘and’ practically and morally responsible for causing ‘the violence unleashed on the Capitol. “
The trial underscored the dilemma that Trump poses to Republicans after the January 6 rebellion, with many Republican senators anxious for the party to pass from the former president, but still struggling with the reality that he has dominion over the party’s base. . It is a dichotomy that the party will face before the mid-term elections of 2022, when it intends to regain control of Congress, and the presidential primaries of the Republican Party of 2024.
“I look forward to seeing what my Republican friends will do if they stand up,” Biden told CNN in his first comments on the impeachment trial since the House’s impeachment administrators closed the case on Thursday.
Biden said he did not plan to speak to any senator about the trial or how they would vote.
The House’s impeachment managers this week showed disturbing and emotional images showing protesters violently attacking police and getting dangerously close to reaching lawmakers and then Vice President Mike Pence as they fled the House and Senate chambers. Five people, including a Capitol police officer, died in the Capitol riot.