“This sad chapter in our history has reminded us that democracy is fragile. That it must always be defended. That we must always be vigilant. That violence and extremism have no place in America. And that each of us has a duty and ‘has a responsibility as Americans, and especially as leaders, to defend the truth and defeat the lies,’ Biden said in a statement.
The Senate acquitted Trump in his second indictment on Saturday and voted that the former president was not guilty of inciting the deadly January 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol.
“The Senate followed the dual vote to accuse him by the House of Representatives,” Biden said. “Although the final vote did not lead to a conviction, the content of the indictment is not in dispute. Even those opposed to the conviction, like Senate Minority Leader McConnell, believe Donald Trump was guilty of a ‘shameful dereliction of duty’ and ‘practically and morally responsible for provoking’ the violence unleashed on the Capitol. ‘
The trial highlights the dilemma Trump poses to Republicans in the wake of the January 6 riot, with many Republican senators eager for the party to step down from the former president but still struggling with the reality that he is over the party’s base prevails. It is a dichotomy that the party will face in the 2022 midterm elections when it wants to regain control of Congress and the 2024 presidential by-election.
“I’m just anxious to see what my Republican friends do when they get up,” Biden said in his first comment on the indictment to CNN since House House trustees resigned Thursday.
Biden said he has no plans to talk to any senators about the trial or how they will vote.
House leaders this week aired disturbing and gripping footage showing rioters violently attacking officials and getting dangerously close to reaching lawmakers and then-Vice President Mike Pence as they fled the chamber and Senate chamber. Five people, including a Capitol police officer, were killed in the riot at the Capitol.