February 13, 2021

Duckworth and Bipartisan Majority of Senate Vote to Convict Trump, Even as Most Republicans Put Former President Before Country

 

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement after a bipartisan majority of the United States Senate voted to convict Donald J. Trump of inciting an insurrection against the United States of America: 

“Last month, Donald Trump lavished praise on a mob hell-bent on violence. He gave them orders to ‘fight like hell’—kindling their anger, weaponizing their fury, then directing them to the steps of the United States Capitol where they waged an insurrection that led to the murder of a Capitol Police Officer and the deaths of at least six other people.

“After the House managers’ fact-based, convincing and harrowing case, a majority of United States Senators voted to hold Trump accountable today, putting principle before partisanship—country before Trumpism—and helping send the message that no President of any party has free rein to incite violence at any point in their term. That a President is subject to constitutional accountability for every action they take in office, whether it occurs during their last week, their last day or even their final few minutes serving in office.

“However, it is profoundly disheartening that so many of my Republican colleagues chose to ignore the evidence and vote to acquit him. Too many Republican senators are comfortable hiding behind their misguided belief that trying a former President for his actions in office is unconstitutional, even as they refuse to answer the much more important question of whether actually inciting an insurrection against the constitution is unconstitutional. By doing so, they desecrate the democracy that so many patriots— including members of my own family—have sacrificed for just to protect the legacy of a man who has only ever truly pledged allegiance to himself.”

“History will not look kindly on their votes to defend a wannabe tin-pot dictator or their willingness to further imperil our notion of a government of the people, by the people and for the people. As a result of this trial, the world knows that Donald Trump betrayed his oath by inciting a violent insurrection to try to overturn a free and fair election that Joe Biden won by millions upon millions of votes. Those who choose to ignore that reality, who are willing to justify Trump’s attempts to undermine this nation’s centuries-old tradition of peaceful transfers of power, will forever have to live with their decision to put politics above nation—the consequences of which will have a long-lasting impact on the strength of our democracy.”

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