McConnell Shares What the Senate’s Acquittal of Trump ‘Delivered’ in Op-Ed

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) is weighing in on the Senate’s acquittal of former President Donald Trump.

The Kentucky senator is declaring that the acquittal vindicated the Constitution, not Trump, he wrote in a Wall Street Journal op-ed published Monday evening.

After calling Jan. 6 a “shameful day” when a “mob bloodied law enforcement and besieged the first branch of government,” McConnell said, “There is no question former President Trump bears moral responsibility.”

His remarks come shortly after the Senate acquitted Trump on the charge of “incitement of insurrection” with a 57-43 vote on Saturday, as IJR reported. That fell 10 votes short of convicting him. Seven Republicans joined Democrats.

“His supporters stormed the Capitol because of the unhinged falsehoods he shouted into the world’s largest megaphone,” McConnell wrote. “His behavior during and after the chaos was also unconscionable, from attacking Vice President Mike Pence during the riot to praising the criminals after it ended.”

McConnell later added in the op-ed, “The nation needs real constitutional champions, not fair-weather constitutionalists.”

He added of the acquittal:

“The Senate’s duty last week was clear. It wasn’t to guarantee a specific punishment at any cost. Our job was to defend the Constitution and respect its limits. That is what our acquittal delivered.”