, Columnist
For Trump, No Conviction — But a Historic Repudiation
Let's hope the bipartisan Senate condemnation of a one-term president is a warning to his successors.
Hard to believe this will be a model for future presidents.
Photographer: Drew Angerer/Getty Images
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Seven Republicans joined every Senate Democrat to convict Donald Trump at his second impeachment trial. That fell 10 votes short of the two-thirds required. But even if 57-43 was not be enough for a conviction, it was a strong bipartisan repudiation.
After all, the main thrust of Trump’s defense was not to defend him on the facts, but to argue that a post-presidency conviction was unconstitutional. And while some Republican senators voted against removing him based on that argument, they did not object to the case on its merits.