Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) voted to acquit former President Donald Trump in his second impeachment trial, while still rebuking his "disgraceful" and "reckless" actions.
The Republican leader spoke on the Senate floor on Saturday afternoon shortly after Trump was acquitted on a charge of inciting an insurrection at the Capitol building on Jan. 6. Despite McConnell voting not guilty, he again strongly criticized the former president's conduct surrounding the riot.
"Former President Trump's actions [that] preceded the riot were a disgraceful, disgraceful dereliction of duty," McConnell said. "There's no question — none — that President Trump is practically and morally responsible for provoking the events of the day. No question about it."
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
McConnell continued to slam Trump over his response to the riot and for engineering a "campaign of disinformation and rage that provoked it." At the same time, McConnell defended his not guilty vote by arguing Trump is "constitutionally not eligible for conviction" as a former president.
"We have no power to convict and disqualify a former office holder who is now a private citizen," McConnell argued.
Wrapping up his remarks, McConnell noted that despite the Senate's acquittal, Trump is "still liable" for his actions in office as a private citizen.
"President Trump is still liable for everything he did while he was in office, as an ordinary citizen," McConnell said. "He didn't get away with anything yet. Yet. We have a criminal justice system in this country. We have civil litigation. And former presidents are not immune from being accountable by either one."
Seven Republican senators voted to convict Trump, making this the most bipartisan impeachment vote in American history. Prior to McConnell's remarks, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y) slammed those Republicans who voted to acquit Trump, saying they have signed "their names in the columns of history alongside his name forever." Brendan Morrow
-
5 dramatically dysfunctional cartoons about the government shutdownCartoons Artists take on life without government, foam finger pointing, and more
-
October 4 editorial cartoonsCartoons Saturday's political cartoons include the Einstein files, defunding the police, and an odd tribute to Jane Goodall
-
Mustardy beans and hazelnuts recipeThe Week Recommends Nod to French classic offers zingy, fresh taste
-
US tipped to help Kyiv strike Russian energy sitesSpeed Read Trump has approved providing Ukraine with intelligence for missile strikes on Russian energy infrastructure
-
Netanyahu agrees to Trump’s new Gaza peace planSpeed Read At President Trump's meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, they agreed upon a plan to end Israel’s war in Gaza
-
Russia is ‘helping China’ prepare for an invasion of TaiwanIn the Spotlight Russia is reportedly allowing China access to military training
-
Moldova gives decisive win to pro-EU partySpeed Read The country is now on track to join the European Union within five years
-
Interpol arrests hundreds in Africa-wide sextortion crackdownIN THE SPOTLIGHT A series of stings disrupts major cybercrime operations as law enforcement estimates millions in losses from schemes designed to prey on lonely users
-
UK, 3 Western allies recognize Palestinian stateSpeed Read Britain, Canada, Australia and Portugal formally recognized the state of Palestine
-
Russia slams Kyiv, hits government buildingSpeed Read This was Moscow's largest aerial assault since launching its full-scale invasion in 2022
-
China's Xi hosts Modi, Putin, Kim in challenge to USSpeed Read Chinese President Xi Jinping hosted Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Russian President Vladimir Putin and other Asian leaders at an SCO summit
