House Impeaches Trump for Capitol Insurrection, Senate Acquits
The United States House of Representatives impeaches President Donald Trump for incitement of insurrection following the January 6 Capitol attack. The Senate later acquits him after falling short of the required two-thirds majority for a conviction.
The United States House of Representatives impeaches President Donald Trump for the second time on January 13, 2021, charging him with incitement of insurrection. This historic action stems from the violent January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, which occurs as Congress convenes to certify the 2020 presidential election results. A total of 232 House members vote in favor of the single article of impeachment, making Trump the only U.S. president to face impeachment twice.
The impeachment process focuses on Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 election and his rhetoric leading up to the Capitol riot. Key factors include his phone call with Georgia's secretary of state pressuring officials to find votes and his speech to supporters on January 6 before the breach of the Capitol building. Ten House Republicans join Democrats in voting to approve the article of impeachment.
The subsequent Senate trial concludes on February 13, 2021, with an acquittal. While 57 senators vote to convict the president, the count falls short of the 67 votes required for a conviction. The 43 not-guilty votes ensure Trump remains acquitted, allowing him to potentially seek future political office despite the unprecedented bipartisan support for his conviction in the Senate.