US Senate rejects impeachment articles against Trump
By Hu Zexi
People's Daily app
1580939622000

imp2.jpeg

In this image from video, Chief Justice of the United States John Roberts arrives for the vote in the impeachment trial against President Donald Trump in the Senate at the US Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2020. (Photo: AP)

Washington (People's Daily) -- On Wednesday afternoon, the US Senate took the final vote on the impeachment case against President Donald Trump and rejected the two articles of impeachment proposed by the House of Representatives. 

The votes were largely along party lines, with Republicans securing Trump's acquittal by virtue of their majority in the chamber. But Republican Senator Mitt Romney of Utah voted in favor of the first article, namely abuse of power, becoming the only Senator to cross party lines. 

On Dec. 18, House Democrats filed two articles of impeachment against Trump, one for abuse of power and the other for obstructing Congress. 

Democrats believe Trump used a White House meeting and military aid to pressure Ukraine to investigate former vice President Joe Biden, a political rival of Trump. Democrats also accused Trump of obstructing cooperation by administration officials while Congress investigated the matter. 

Over the past two weeks, the Senate has trialed the case, with Republicans and Democrats engaged in a bitter political battle. The two sides clashed over whether to introduce new witnesses and documents into the trial. 

Democrats say they want to subpoena former White House national security advisor John Bolton, acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney and others to testify before the Senate. 

In addition, Democrats are demanding the introduction of new documents from the White House, State Department, Pentagon, Energy Department and Office of Management and Budget. In the end, however, the Republican leadership maintained party unity and succeeded in thwarting Democratic efforts. 

Trump is the third US President to be formally impeached by Congress after former presidents Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton. 

President Trump himself has consistently denied the Democrats' allegations and called the entire impeachment process a hoax.