Trump acquitted by Senate in impeachment trial

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President Donald Trump has been found not guilty during the impeachment trial, ending the attempt to remove him from office bitterly divided United States.

The Senate, run by the president’s fellow Republicans, voted to release him on charges of abuse of power 52-48 and 53-47 on obstruction of Congress.

Democrats charged Mr. Trump in December by pressing Ukraine to smear potential White House rivals.
He will now be the first impeached president to seek re-election.

Impeachment allows Congress – part of the US government who write and bring in legislation – to put the president on trial.

In a historic ballot on Wednesday, the Senate decided not to remove the 45th US president from office on charges arising from dealing with Ukraine.

If convicted on both charges, Mr. Trump would have to hand over his office to Vice President Mike Pence.
Democrat-led House of Representatives approved the articles of impeachment on December 18.

Media captionThe Senate has voted in favor of freeing the President of Trump on impeachment charges

How President Trump react?

Mr. Trump, who is looking for a second four-year term in elections 3 November has always denied any wrongdoing.
his re-election campaign said in a statement: “President Trump has been totally justified, and it is time to get back to the business of the American people.

“The do-what Democrats know they can not beat him, so they have to accuse him.” It says “this terrible ordeal” and “nonsense” is merely a campaign tactic Democrats.

The statement added: “The impeachment hoax will go down as one of the worst calculations in American political history.”
Mr. Trump – whose personal approval rating with voters hit with a personal best of 49% this week, according to Gallup – tweeted that he would speak on Thursday about the case.

How impeachment sound play out?

Mitt Romney of Utah is the only Republican senator to cross the aisle and punish Mr. Trump, the first charges of abuse of power.

Despite expectations of Democrats, two other Republican moderates Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska did not join Mr. Romney in voting to punish the president.

Some Republican senators criticized the behavior of Mr. Trump in recent days but said it did not rise to the level of impeachment.