Trump acquitted on all charges in Senate impeachment trialFebruary 6, 2020 - 10:37 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The U.S. Senate voted Wednesday, February 5 afternoon to acquit President Donald Trump on both articles of impeachment against him, New York Post reports. The chamber first handily voted down the article alleging abuse of power, 52 – 48, affirming an outcome that was widely expected essentially since the trial’s start on January 21. Minutes later, they voted 53-47 against the second article, alleging obstruction of Congress. The effort to remove Trump from office needed the support of at least two-thirds — or 67 members — of the GOP-controlled body to carry, but Utah Sen. Mitt Romney was the only one of the 53 Republicans in the chamber to buck party lines and vote to convict on the first article. He responded not guilty on the second article, making that acquittal a strict party-line vote. Sen. Joe Manchin, a Democrat in the Trump stronghold of West Virginia, stuck to party lines, voting to convict. No president has ever been removed from office via impeachment. Senators will now vote on the second article of impeachment, alleging obstruction of Congress, for which an acquittal is also expected. Approved in the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives in December, the two articles alleged wrongdoing by Trump in his request that Ukraine probe former US Vice President Joe Biden and his son, Hunter, over their dealings in Ukraine. Democrats alleged that that ask — made during a July 2019 phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky — constituted a quid pro quo because $391 million in US military aid to Ukraine hung in the balance at the time. Trump has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, and characterized the impeachment push as a partisan “witch hunt.” Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Czech-Armenian military cooperation discussed in Yerevan A delegation led by the Director General for the Industrial Cooperation Division of the Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic visited Armenia. U.S. welcomes efforts to define Armenia-Azerbaijan border The United States welcomes efforts to define the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan, says Vedant Patel. Biden honors resilience of Armenian people on April 24 U.S. President Joe Biden has issued a statement on the 109th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Ex-Karabakh leader moved to solitary confinement cell in Baku, his son says David Vardanyan is the son of former Karabakh leader Ruben Vardanyan who who is currently imprisoned in Azerbaijan. |