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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 13, 2021, 9:41 AM EST

Senate to determine whether to call witnesses

House impeachment managers and Trump's defense team on Saturday are expected to deliver closing arguments, for which they each have two hours, followed by a final vote on whether Trump is guilty of "incitement of insurrection" -- but an 11th-hour push for witnesses may shift the trial's timeline.

Among other motions that may be called Saturday, there will be an opportunity to motion for witnesses, prompting two hours of debate -- and potentially, kicking off a behind-closed-doors deposition process.

Razor wire tops the anti-scaling fence surrounding the perimetter of the U.S. Capitol, Feb. 11, 2021, in Washington, D.C.
Alex Brandon/AP

Democratic Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I. and Jeff Merkely, D-Ore., are two senators now expressing a willingness to entertain the idea, despite leadership from both parties previously signaling wanting a speedy trial. The debate comes as new details emerge of a phone call between Trump and House Minority Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, R-Wash., one of ten House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump, in a statement overnight said that McCarthy spoke to Trump as violent protesters stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, but the then-sitting president refused to stop them.

"To the patriots who were standing next to the former president as these conversations were happening, or even to the former vice president: if you have something to add here, now would be the time," she said in a statement.

PHOTO: House impeachment manager Del. Stacey Plaskett presented this exhibit slide showing Vice President Mike Pence being evacuated during the riot Jan. 6.
House impeachment manager Del. Stacey Plaskett presented this exhibit slide of an image from U.S. Capitol security video showing Vice President Mike Pence being evacuated in close proximity to rioters who breached the Capitol Jan. 6 during the second impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump in the Senate at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Feb. 10, 2021.
Senate TV via AP

The Senate will reconvene at 10 a.m.

-ABC News' Trish Turner

Feb 13, 2021, 2:00 AM EST

GOP Rep. Herrera Beutler recounts details of Trump-McCarthy call in statement

Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler tweeted out a statement Friday reiterating comments she made about a talk she had with House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy regarding former President Donald Trump's involvement in the Capitol siege.

The congresswoman from Washington's 3rd Congressional District is one of the 10 Republicans in the House voting for Trump's second impeachment. 

In the statement, Herrera Beutler reiterated her claims (which she made earlier to Washington newspaper The Daily News) that McCarthy spoke to Trump as violent protesters stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, but the then-sitting president refused to stop them.

"When McCarthy finally reached the president on January 6 and asked him to publicly and forcefully call off the riot, the president initially repeated the falsehood that it was antifa that had breached the Capitol," she wrote. "McCarthy refuted that and told the president that these were Trump supporters. That's when, according to McCarthy, the president said: 'Well, Kevin, I guess these people are more upset about the election than you are.'"

Herrera Beutler said she's shared these details in conversation with various colleagues ever since she decided to vote for Trump's impeachment. 

She ended her statement by challenging those with firsthand knowledge of Trump's actions during the Capitol siege -- including former Vice President Mike Pence -- to come forward. 

"To the patriots who were standing next to the former president as these conversations were happening, or even to the former vice president: if you have something to add here, now would be the time," she wrote.

Feb 12, 2021, 10:23 PM EST

Trump lawyer threatened to quit night before defense began

David Schoen, one of former President Donald Trump's impeachment lawyers, threatened to quit Thursday night -- just hours before he was to mount a defense of Trump's actions on Jan. 6.

The threat came as tensions grew among the team, specifically over how videos would be used in the defense and that some of the videos would be repeated multiple times, sources with direct knowledge told ABC News.

David Schoen, an attorney for former President Donald Trump, speaks during the second impeachment trial of Trump in the Senate at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Feb. 12, 2021.
Senate Television via AP

It wasn't until Trump called Schoen directly that he agreed to remain on the team. It also led to the speaking roles and order of the attorneys during the Friday defense presentation being altered, according to the sources.

Schoen and a spokesperson for the former president did not immediately respond to a request for comment from ABC News.

-ABC News' John Santucci and Katherine Faulders

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

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