A divided Senate voted largely along party lines on Tuesday in a historic trial to impeach former US President for the second time on charges of inciting the deadly riot on the Capitol which may have a bearing in influencing voters for future elections. The Senate voted 56-44 to proceed to the first-ever trial of a former president, rejecting his defense lawyers’ argument that Trump was beyond the reach of the Senate after having left the White House on Jan. 20. ALSO READ | Hacker Attempts To Poison Water Supply In Florida; No Arrests Made Yet
On January 13, the House of Representatives voted 232-197 to approve a single article of impeachment that accused Trump of “inciting violence against the government of the United States” in an attempt to overturn the result of the election. The article of impeachment also asked that he be disqualified from holding any public office again.
Who is representing Trump?
On the trial Trump will be represented by his attorneys Bruce L Castor Jr and David Schoen, who had filed a 78-page trial brief on Monday (February 8) saying the impeachment charge is violative of Trump’s right to free speech and due process, and is “constitutionally flawed” on account of the fact that Trump has already left office.
What it means for Trump?
It is highly unlikely that Trump will be convicted. Conviction can happen only by two-thirds majority in the Senate, which means 67 Senators must vote in favour. As per the Bloomberg report, it is not expected to get a close final vote. Around 17 Republicans are needed to join all 50 Democrats, and the author of the report states “if the total is within five of that tally to either side than if some 25 or more Republicans wind up voting to convict.” The most likely outcome is that they stick together with “no" votes.
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How will it impact future elections?
Since voters don’t tend to have memories for a longer time most of the times, hence, some are likely to shift their long-term evaluation of the Republican Party as a result of Trump’s role in the Capitol Hill seize that took place between the 2020 election and the Joe Biden’s presidency. However, it is believed that trial won’t have much bearing on the future elections, no matter how the House managers (the prosecution) or Trump’s lawyers handle it.
Meanwhile, former US President Donald Trump's attorney Michael Cohen in podcast intervew apologised to adult-film actress Stormy Daniels for the pain he caused her while working with Trump. Daniels mentioned that she did not feel "physically threatened" by Trump but maintained that she did not want to sleep with him because he made her "very uncomfortable."
Recalling her 2006 sexual encounter with Trump, Daniel described the time as, "the worst 90 seconds of my life, for sure, because it just made me hate myself.