IIf the denial of the Donald Trump indictment was a Hollywood movie, the moving music would have surfaced by the time Congressman Joe Neguse explains why he thinks the U.S. Senate is ‘holy’.
“The 13th amendment, the amendment to abolish slavery, was adopted in this room – not figuratively, literally where you all sit and where I stand,” said Neguse, the son of Eritrean immigrants. ‘We made the decision to enter World War II from this room. We certainly struggled, but we always had the opportunity when it mattered most. ”
Chords would have swelled when Jamie Raskin, the general manager of indictment, looked the senators in the eye and begged: “The children of the rebels – even the violent and dangerous children – they are also our children.”
And even hard-line Republicans would have turned to each other and cried when Raskin begged: “Senators, this trial is not ultimately about Donald Trump. The country and the world know who Donald Trump is. This trial is about who we are. Who are we!”
But Washington is no Hollywood and the Senate does not guarantee happy endings, although it is predictable. The cold, hard fact of Trump’s second indictment on Saturday was Trump’s second acquittal. His son, Eric, simply tweeted: “2-0.”
When the time to vote arrived just before 4pm, the old room was filled with a bunch 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 Congressman Al Green of Texas, a pioneer of Trump accusations, sat alone and watched.
The charge against Trump of inciting insurgency has been read. Patrick Leahy of Vermont, the longest-serving Senate member and chairman of the trial, said: ‘Senators, what do you say? Is the respondent, Donald John Trump, guilty or innocent? ”
Senators usually hold votes by shouting, “Aye!” or not! “. The way everyone did it now stood up and uttered ‘Guilty’ or ‘Innocent’, gave the event new gravitas, as if it were suddenly a court of law.
They cast their votes in alphabetical order, while all senators except Rand Paul wear masks because of the virus. The vote of ‘guilty’ or ‘innocent’ sounded back and forth between Democrats on the left and Republicans on the right.
The Democratic Sherrod Brown of Ohio presented a characteristically heinous ‘Guilty’. Richard Burr of North Carolina and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana were the first Republicans to have ranks. Republican Ted Cruz stood up, tucked in his blue jacket and said loudly, “Not guilty.”
When it was his turn, McConnell, who described the mood as a ‘close call’, pulled off his mask and stood up with his hands folded in front of his yellow tie. “Not guilty,” he said quietly but firmly.
From then on, the death knell was cast. If the minority leader had gone against Trump, it is not hard to imagine that a sufficient number of Republicans would have followed to get conviction. For those who believe that McConnell is the architect of many who have gone wrong in his party and country, this was another compelling proof.
After about 10 minutes, the result was announced: 57 guilty, 43 innocent. Leahy stated: “Two-thirds of the senators present who did not vote convict the Senate that the respondent, Donald John Trump, former president of the United States, is innocent as charged in the indictment article.”
That was hardly a complete justification. With a simple majority, Trump loses. This was the most ambiguous margin in favor of conviction in history. He was happy that the Senate rules required two-thirds of the expanded votes. The accusation managers fell just ten short.
In one of the last spaces on earth where telephones and laptops are banned, reporters from the press gallery were bitten to meet their deadlines. Most senators also struggled after the exits. But a couple of both parties moved to Ben Sasse, one of the Republican rebels, to give supportive words 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 trial was not even about choosing a country as a party, not even that. It was about choosing country over Donald Trump. And 43 Republican members elected Trump. They chose Trump. It must be a weight on their conscience today. And it will be a weight on their conscience in the future. ‘
And then McConnell delivered his most damning critique yet on the former president. “Former President Trump’s actions before the riot were a shameful failure of duty,” he said. “There is no doubt that President Trump is practically and morally responsible for provoking the events of that day.”
McConnell only voted to acquit, he claimed because of a technical aspect: Citizen Trump is “constitutionally not eligible for conviction”.
Only in present-day Washington could anyone be so clear about the greatest betrayal ever by a U.S. president of his oath and office, minutes after he was let out of the hook. It was like a jury member at the OJ Simpson trial who voted innocently and then rushed outside with the news that he did, of course.
But if there’s one thing McConnell has mastered over the years, it’s the art of having your cake and eating it, too.