Jackson Telegram, February 15, 2021
(Editor’s Note: Congressman Bill Johnson (R-Marietta) released a statement Saturday afternoon, Feb. 13 at the conclusion of the Senate impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump. The Senate voted 57-43 on Saturday to convict Trump — 10 votes short of the two-thirds vote required for a conviction. As a House member, Johnson voted with the minority against sending articles of impeachment to the Senate for a trial. Congressman Johnson’s statement was as follows:)
“Donald Trump has been acquitted – again. This time as a private citizen and former president.
“Democrats voted to call witnesses today, then changed their mind. I guess they decided even though Donald Trump was a “national emergency,” it wasn’t a big enough crisis to call witnesses and have the last four years of their inflammatory language thrown back in their faces for everyone to see.
“But, here’s the breakdown of what’s happened. Donald Trump was impeached in the House with virtually no debate and no witnesses, and then the Senate decided to bring the trial to a halt rather than call witnesses. No matter what side of the debate you come down on as it relates to President Trump and his actions, the way this trial – and I use that word loosely – was conducted was a total farce.”