Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is claiming that if Republicans refuse to convict former President Donald Trump it will because they are his “co-conspirators.”
“If Senate Republicans fail to convict Donald Trump, it won’t be because the facts were with him or his lawyers mounted a competent defense,” Clinton wrote on Twitter on Wednesday. “It will be because the jury includes his co-conspirators.”
If Senate Republicans fail to convict Donald Trump, it won't be because the facts were with him or his lawyers mounted a competent defense. It will be because the jury includes his co-conspirators.
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) February 10, 2021
It is seemingly unlikely Trump will be convicted after only six Republicans voted to declare the trial constitutional, as IJR reported.
Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Mitt Romney (R-Utah), Ben Sasse (R-Neb.), and Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) all voted yes.
Cassidy said in a statement, “We have heard arguments on both sides on the constitutionality of having a Senate trial of a president who has since left office. A sufficient amount of evidence of constitutionality exists for the Senate to proceed with the trial. This vote is not a prejudgment on the final vote to convict.”
He continued, “If anyone disagrees with my vote and would like an explanation, I ask them to listen to the arguments presented by the House Managers and former President Trump’s lawyers. The House managers had much stronger constitutional arguments. The president’s team did not.”
According to a report by Bloomberg, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) indicated he believes Republicans could still vote to impeach the former president, as IJR reported.
He also suggested the vote for Republicans is a conscience one.
Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) predicted during an appearance on CNN on Tuesday Republicans will not vote to convict Trump out of “fear.”
Trump’s defense team received several critiques from a group of senators after the first day of the trial wrapped up.
Trump attorney David Schoen later replied, “I’ll have to do better next time.”