IHad the denouement of Donald Trump’s impeachment process been a Hollywood movie, rousing music would have sprung up around the time Congressman Joe Neguse explained why he thinks the US Senate floor is “sacred.”
“The 13th amendment, the amendment to abolish slavery, was passed in this room – not figuratively, literally where you all are and where I am,” said Neguse, the son of immigrants from Eritrea. “We made the decision to enter World War II from this room. We’ve certainly had our struggles, but we’ve always risen to the opportunity when it mattered most. “
The accords are said to have swelled when Jamie Raskin, the chief impeachment manager, looked the senators in the eye and pleaded, “The children of the insurgents – even the violent and dangerous ones – are our children too.”
And even harsh Republicans are said to have turned to each other and cried when Raskin pleaded, “Senators, this trial isn’t ultimately about Donald Trump. The country and the world know who Donald Trump is. This test is about who we are. Who we are!
But Washington is not Hollywood and the Senate – while predictable – does not guarantee a happy ending. The cold, hard fact of Trump’s second impeachment trial on Saturday was Trump’s second acquittal. His son, Eric, simply tweeted, “2-0.”
When the time to vote arrived just before 4:00 PM, the old room filled with a buzz of expectant voices. McConnell, sitting in the front row, planted the tips of his fingers together like a cartoon villain. The public gallery above was a sea of empty seats due to coronavirus precautions, although Democratic Texas congressman Al Green, a pioneer of Trump’s impeachment calls, sat alone and watched.
Trump’s indictment of inciting insurrection was read. Patrick Leahy of Vermont, the longest-serving member of the Senate and chair of the trial, said, “Senators, how do you say? Is the respondent, Donald John Trump, guilty or not guilty? “
Typically senators hold votes by “Aye!” or not! ”The manner in which each now took turns to stand up and utter ‘guilty’ or ‘not guilty’ gave the event new gravitas, as if suddenly summoning a court.
They cast their votes in alphabetical order, with all senators except Rand Paul wearing masks because of the virus. Expressing ‘guilty’ or ‘not guilty’ went back and forth between Democrats on the left and Republicans on the right.
Ohio Democrat Sherrod Brown offered a characteristically grim “guilty.” Richard Burr of North Carolina and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana were the first Republicans to break ranks. Republican Ted Cruz got up, buttoned his blue jacket and said loudly, “Not guilty.”
When his turn came, McConnell, who had described the vote as a “close call,” took off his mask and stood with his hands clasped in front of his yellow tie. “Not guilty,” he said softly but firmly.
From that moment on, the die was cast. If the minority leader had gone against Trump, it’s not hard to imagine that enough Republicans would have followed to come to a conviction. For those who believe that McConnell is the architect of much that has gone wrong in his party and country, it was another compelling piece of evidence.
After about 10 minutes, the result was announced: 57 for guilty, 43 not guilty. Leahy stated, “Two-thirds of the senators present have voted not guilty, the Senate rules that the defendant, Donald John Trump, former president of the United States, is not guilty of impeachment charges against the article.”
It was hardly a complete justification. Trump lost with a simple majority. It was the most twofold margin of conviction in history. He was fortunate that the Senate rules require two-thirds of the votes cast. The impeachment managers were only 10 short.
In one of the last spaces on Earth where telephones and laptops are banned, reporters stormed out of the press gallery to meet their deadlines. Most of the senators rushed to the exits too. But a few of both sides made their way to Ben Sasse, one of the Republican rebels, to offer words of support or taps on the arm.
When the Senate returned to its usual state – almost empty – there was a final turn. Chuck Schumer, the majority leader, spoke from the heart: “This lawsuit was not even about choosing a country over a side, not even that. This was about choosing a country over Donald Trump. And 43 Republican members chose Trump. They chose Trump. It should weigh on their conscience today. And it will weigh on their conscience in the future. “
And then McConnell gave his most damning criticism to date of the former president. “Former President Trump’s actions prior to the riot were an outrageous dereliction of duty,” he said. “There is no doubt – none – that President Trump is practically and morally responsible for provoking the events of that day.”
McConnell had only voted to acquit, he claimed, because of a technicality: Citizen Trump “is not constitutionally eligible for conviction.”
Only in Washington today can anyone be so clear about the greatest betrayal ever by a US president of his oath and office just minutes after leaving him off the hook. It was like a juror in the O.J.Simpson Trial who voted innocent and then ran out with the news that of course he did.
But if there’s one thing McConnell has mastered over the years, the trick is to have your cake and eat it too.