North Carolina Sen. Richard Burr voted on Saturday to convict former President Donald Trump in his second impeachment trial, while his colleague, Senator Thom Tillis, voted innocent.
Burr, who is not running for re-election in 2022, had previously said that Trump shared some of the blame for the January 6 attack by right-wing extremists on U.S. Capitol Hill.
Burr was one of seven Republican senators who voted guilty. His vote – along with Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy – was the most surprising vote.
The other Republicans who voted to condemn were: Susan Collins, from Maine; Mitt Romney, from Utah; Lisa Murkowski of Alaska; Ben Sasse from Nebraska; and Patrick Toomey from Pennsylvania.
Burr had previously voted that the impeachment trial was not constitutional. He also voted on Saturday against allowing witnesses at the trial.
Tillis also voted that the trial was not constitutional and voted against the witnesses. He released a statement on Saturday explaining his vote, saying that “there are valid questions whether it is constitutional for Congress to put a private citizen on trial. And even if it is constitutionally permissible, it is not prudent in the absence of a full impeachment investigation. “
He added: “House managers argued that impeachment was necessary to prevent former President Trump from running for president again. Their reasoning is not rooted in any consistent and objective pattern and collapses: what responsibility would a trial give a second-term president who commits objectionable offenses in his last days in office when they are already constitutionally barred from seeking another term? I have faith in the American people to determine whether former President Trump has disqualified himself to run for president in the future. “
Burr’s office did not issue a statement after the vote.
South Carolina’s two Republican senators – Tim Scott and Lindsey Graham – voted innocent. Both voted that the trial was not constitutional. Graham voted to allow witnesses.
Democratic Congresswoman from Mecklenburg County, Alma Adams, issued a statement after the vote saying she was “seriously disappointed with the Senate vote”.
She added: “I was there on that tragic day. Trump supporters with Trump hats and flags stormed the Capitol and said President Trump sent them. The Capitol was attacked, voter certification was interrupted, the Senate chamber was violated and people died as a result. The facts of the case could not be more clear; however, we learned today that Donald Trump has stronger control over Senate Republicans than clarity of facts or love for our Constitution and our country. “
Want to read all the best news from WFAE every day? Sign up for The Frequency, WFAE’s daily email newsletter, so that our top stories are delivered directly to your inbox.