Live

Trump impeachment trial live updates: Biden says charge 'not in dispute' in 1st comments on acquittal

Biden remembered those who were killed and called for unity going forward.

Last Updated: February 15, 2021, 4:10 PM EST

Former President Donald Trump's historic second impeachment trial ended with a 57-43 vote to acquit in the Senate. He faced a single charge of incitement of insurrection over his actions leading up to the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol.

Feb 12, 2021, 7:41 PM EST

Senate on track to wrap Trump's impeachment trial Saturday

After roughly three hours of opening arguments for Trump's defense team, followed by about three hours of questions and answers from senators, the Senate has adjourned Trump's second impeachment trial until Saturday at 10 a.m.

House impeachment managers and the defense team on Saturday will deliver closing arguments, for which they each have two hours, followed by the final vote on whether Trump is guilty of "incitement of insurrection."

Trump attorney Bruce Castor told Capitol Hill reporters late Friday he thought his side would take roughly an hour for their final argument.

PHOTO: In this image from video, Bruce Castor, an attorney for former President Donald Trump, answers a question during the second impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump in the Senate at the Capitol, Feb. 12, 2021.
In this image from video, Bruce Castor, an attorney for former President Donald Trump, answers a question from Sen. Tim Scott and Sen. Bill Hagerty during the second impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump in the Senate at the Capitol, Feb. 12, 2021.
Senate Television via AP

House impeachment manager Rep. Jamie Raskin, answers a question from Sen. Elizabeth Warren, during the second impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump in the Senate at the U.S. Capitol, Feb. 12, 2021.
Senate Television via AP

Among other motions that could be called, a side could motion for witnesses, prompting two hours of debate on whether to call them to the chamber. However, leadership from both parties have signaled a desire for a speedy trial, and House impeachment managers have agued the senators, as impartial jurors, are themselves witnesses of the Jan. 6. attack.

Although the trial has been marked by partisan divides, all 100 senators agreed to pass legislation to award hero Capitol Police Officer Eugene Goodman the Congressional Gold Medal at the end of Friday's proceedings and gave Goodman, who was in the chamber, a standing ovation.

PHOTO: U.S. Capitol Police Officer Eugene Goodman (top) acknowledges a standing ovation, during the fourth day of the impeachment trial of the former president on charges of inciting the deadly attack on the U.S. Capitol, Feb. 12, 2021.
U.S. Capitol Police Officer Eugene Goodman (top) acknowledges a standing ovation just before the Senate votes to award him a Congressional Gold Medal, during the fourth day of the impeachment trial of the former president on charges of inciting the deadly attack on the U.S. Capitol, Feb. 12, 2021.
Senate TV via Reuters

The House would still have to pass the bill for Goodman to make it official, but it may be one measure both chambers and parties can get behind in Washington in the wake of the deadly Capitol attack.

-ABC News' Trish Turner

Feb 12, 2021, 6:44 PM EST

Capitol Police Officer Goodman receives standing ovation

After the question-and-answer period of the trial, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer praised U.S. Capitol Police Officer Eugene Goodman, who led violent protesters away from the Senate chamber and whose actions helped prevent Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah from harm during the riot on Jan. 6.

"In the weeks after the attack on January the 6th, the world learned about the incredible, incredible bravery of Officer Goodman on that fateful day," Schumer said.

"Here in this trial, we saw a new video, powerful video, showing calmness under pressure, his courage in the line of duty, his foresight in the midst of chaos, and his willingness to make himself a target of the mob’s rage so that others might reach safety. Officer Goodman is in the chamber tonight," he added.

Senators from both sides of the aisle rose to give Goodman a standing ovation.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell also sang the praises of Goodman, and the U.S. Capitol Police force's bravery during the riot.

"In the face of lawlessness, the officers of the U.S. Capitol lived out the fullest sense of their oath. If not for the quick thinking and bravery of Officer Eugene Goodman, in particular, people in this chamber may not have escaped that day unharmed," McConnell said. "Officer Goodman's actions reflect a deep, personal commitment to duty and brought even greater distinction upon all the brave brothers and sisters in uniform."

House impeachment manager Del. Stacey Plaskett showed this image from U.S. Capitol security video, Feb. 10, 2021, in Washington of Capitol Police officer Eugene Goodman running past Sen. Mitt Romney after redirecting Romney away from rioters on Jan. 6.
House impeachment manager Del. Stacey Plaskett showed this image from U.S. Capitol security video, during the second day of former President Donald Trump's second impeachment trial in the Senate, Feb. 10, 2021, in Washington of Capitol Police officer Eugene Goodman running past Sen. Mitt Romney after redirecting Romney away from rioters on Jan. 6.
Senate Television/AP

The Senate then passed a bill to award Goodman the Congressional Medal, the highest honor the body can bestow.

The bill goes to the House for approval. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi suggested on Thursday that she would propose awarding the honor to all Capitol Police officers, which is not what the Senate passed.

Feb 12, 2021, 6:36 PM EST

'Future of democracy rests in your hands': Castro

Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas, answered a question on behalf of House impeachment managers from Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., who noted that since the November election, officials have been under enormous pressure over upholding the election of President Joe Biden, and asked what would've happened if these officials had "bowed to the force" of Trump or the mob that attacked the Capitol.

Castro pointed to pressure put on officials, including Vice President Mike Pence, Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and Republican-controlled legislatures across the country, and said if senators don't vote to convict they are giving a "green light" to this behavior.

"As a Congress and as a nation, we cannot be numb to this conduct. If we are, and if we do not set a precedent against it, our presidents will do this in the future. And this will be a green light to them to engage in that kind of pressure and conduct," he said.

PHOTO: In this image from video, House impeachment manager Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas, answers a question from a senator during the second impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump in the Senate at the Capitol, Feb. 12, 2021.
In this image from video, House impeachment manager Rep. Joaquin Castro answers a question from a senator during the second impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump in the Senate at the Capitol, Feb. 12, 2021.
Senate Television via AP

"This could've gone a very different way if those election officials had bowed to the intimidation and the pressure of the president of the United States," he said.

"For us to believe otherwise and think that somehow a rabbit came out of the hat and a mob just showed up on their own, all by themselves. This is dangerous, senators," he said.

Feb 12, 2021, 6:34 PM EST

'This attack was not about one speech': Plaskett

Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan., asked if the article of impeachment was centered on the accusation that Trump incited the crowd, were the House managers contradicting themselves by outlining the premeditated nature and planning of this event.

Trump's defense lawyer, Michael van der Veen, immediately agreed with the question, saying "yes." He went on to use the remainder of his time to go back and talk about a previous question.

The House managers responded by reiterating that Trump's months-long campaign of disinformation helped lead to the insurrection.

"This attack was not about one speech," Del. Stacey Plaskett, D-Virgin Islands, said. "Most of you men would not have your wives with one attempt at talking to her. It took numerous tries. You had to build it up. That is what the president did as well. He put together a group that would do what he wanted."

Related Topics

Sponsored Content by Taboola