‘The Substance Of The Cost Is Not In Dispute’ : Trump Impeachment Trial: Stay Updates : NPR

President Biden mentioned the assault on the Capitol “has reminded us that democracy is fragile.” Above, Biden speaks throughout a go to Thursday to the Nationwide Institutes of Well being in Bethesda, Md.

Evan Vucci/AP

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Evan Vucci/AP

President Biden mentioned the assault on the Capitol “has reminded us that democracy is fragile.” Above, Biden speaks throughout a go to Thursday to the Nationwide Institutes of Well being in Bethesda, Md.

Evan Vucci/AP

President Biden responded to the Senate’s acquittal of Donald Trump on Saturday by reminding People that reality should be defended, saying the impeachment of the previous president was a stark illustration of the hazard posed to democracy by lies, misinformation and extremism.

And Biden mentioned that though Trump was acquitted, his actions within the lead-up to the Jan. 6 revolt weren’t “in dispute.”

“This unhappy chapter in our historical past has reminded us that democracy is fragile,” Biden mentioned in an announcement. “That it should at all times be defended. That we should be ever vigilant. That violence and extremism has no place in America. And that every of us has an obligation and duty as People, and particularly as leaders, to defend the reality and to defeat the lies.”

A majority of senators voted to carry Trump responsible on one cost of inciting an revolt, however the 57-43 tally fell 10 votes wanting the two-thirds majority required for conviction. In all, seven Republicans voted to convict the previous president, making Saturday’s vote probably the most bipartisan in a presidential impeachment trial in U.S. historical past.

“Whereas the ultimate vote didn’t result in a conviction, the substance of the cost will not be in dispute,” Biden mentioned. “Even these against the conviction, like Senate Minority Chief McConnell, imagine Donald Trump was responsible of a ‘disgraceful dereliction of obligation’ and ‘virtually and morally liable for frightening’ the violence unleashed on the Capitol.”

Till his feedback on Saturday, Biden had remained largely silent about his predecessor’s impeachment, telling reporters final week that he didn’t even plan to look at the trial. He neither totally supported — nor opposed — the vote by the Home of Representatives final month to question Trump, saying he needed to go away the matter as much as Congress. He additionally declined to say whether or not the Senate ought to transfer to convict.

In his assertion, Biden paid homage to Capitol Hill Police officer Brian Sicknick — one of many 5 individuals who died through the Jan. 6 assault on the U.S. Capitol — and mentioned he was considering “about all those that misplaced their lives, all these whose lives had been threatened, and all those that are nonetheless at this time residing with the phobia they lived by that day.”

The president mentioned the duty forward for the nation was to observe the instance set by those that have “demonstrated the braveness to guard the integrity of our democracy.”

“That’s how we finish this uncivil battle and heal the very soul of our nation,” he mentioned. “That’s the job forward. And it is a job we should undertake collectively. As america of America.”