WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Senate voted to acquit former President Donald Trump of a charge of inciting the attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, but it was the most bipartisan vote among the four impeachment trials of a U.S. president. The 57-43 tally included seven Republican senators who joined 50 Democrats voting to convict.
While that number fell 10 votes short of conviction, siding with the Democrats were Republican Sens. Richard Burr, N,C.; Bill Cassidy, La.; Susan Collins, Maine; Lisa Murkowski, Alaska; Mitt Romney, Utah; Ben Sasse, Neb.; and Patrick Toomey, Pa.
>> Impeachment aftermath: Schumer, McConnell criticize Trump’s actions
Here is what GOP senators said about their decision to convict.
>> Senate votes to acquit on Trump impeachment
Richard Burr: The North Carolina senator noted in a statement that Jan. 6 was “a grim day in our nation’s history.”
“The attack on the U.S. Capitol was an attempt to undermine our democratic institutions and overrule the will of the American people through violence, intimidation, and force,” Burr said. The President promoted unfounded conspiracy theories to cast doubt on the integrity of a free and fair election because he did not like the results. As Congress met to certify the election results, the President directed his supporters to go to the Capitol to disrupt the lawful proceedings required by the Constitution. When the crowd became violent, the President used his office to first inflame the situation instead of immediately calling for an end to the assault.”
Burr said he did not make his decision lightly, but added that the vote to convict was “necessary.”
Burr is not running for reelection next year, CNN reported.
Bill Cassidy: The Louisiana senator released a video explaining his decision.
“Our Constitution and our country is more important than any one person,” Cassidy said. “I voted to convict President Trump because he is guilty.”
Later Saturday, the executive committee of the Republican party of Louisiana unanimously decided to censure Cassidy.
“We condemn, in the strongest possible terms, the vote today by Sen. Cassidy to convict former President Trump,” the committee said in a statement. “Fortunately, clearer heads prevailed and President Trump has been acquitted of the impeachment charge filed against him.”
Susan Collins: The Maine senator, in a speech on the Senate floor, said the Jan. 6 riot “was the culmination of a steady stream of provocations by President Trump.” Collins singled out as “egregious” Trump’s earlier call with the Georgia secretary of state, in which the former president pressured the official to “find” votes for him.
Collins is the only U.S. senator in history to vote to acquit a member of the opposition party -- Bill Clinton in 1999 -- and vote to convict a member of her own party when she voted to convict Trump on Saturday.
“Instead of preventing a dangerous situation, President Trump created one,” Collins said in a statement explaining her vote. “Rather than defend the constitutional transfer of power, he incited an insurrection with the purpose of preventing that transfer of power from occurring.”
Lisa Murkowski: The Alaska senator said in an interview that it was important for her to stand up for her values, and that is why she voted to convict.
“If I can’t say what I believe that our president should stand for, then why should I ask Alaskans to stand with me?” Murkowski told Politico. “This was consequential on many levels, but I cannot allow the significance of my vote, to be devalued by whether or not I feel that this is helpful for my political ambitions.”
Mitt Romney: The senator from Utah was the only Republican to vote for conviction in both of Trump’s impeachment trials.
“President Trump incited the insurrection against Congress by using the power of his office to summon his supporters to Washington on Jan. 6 and urging them to march on the Capitol during the counting of electoral votes,” Romney said in a statement. “He did this despite the obvious and well-known threats of violence that day. President Trump also violated his oath of office by failing to protect the Capitol, the Vice President, and others in the Capitol.”
Ben Sasse: The Nebraska senator released a statement saying that he would “always vote my conscience” even if it conflicted with his party.
“In my first speech here in the Senate in November 2015, I promised to speak out when a president -- even of my own party -- exceeds his or her powers,” Sasse said. “I cannot go back on my word, and Congress cannot lower our standards on such a grave matter, simply because it is politically convenient. I must vote to convict.”
Patrick Toomey: Trump’s actions on Jan. 6 were “A lawless attempt to retain power by a president was one of the founders’ greatest fears,” the Pennsylvania senator told The Philadelphia Inquirer after the vote. “His betrayal of the Constitution and his oath of office required conviction.”
“President Trump summoned thousands of people to Washington, D.C., inflamed their passions by repeating disproven allegations about widespread fraud,” Toomey said. “He urged that mob to march on the Capitol for the explicit purpose of preventing Congress and the vice president from formally certifying the results of the presidential election. He did all this to hold on to power despite having legitimately lost.”